Summary
Workarounds
No workarounds are known for this issue.
References
- Pull request resolving the issue PR 1218
- Pull request which introduced the faulty computation of signature threshold on new root metadata PR 1101
- A similar previous issue with incorrectly computed signature thresholds in tuf is described in GHSA-pwqf-9h7j-7mv8
Impact
The function _verify_root_self_signed(), introduced in v0.14.0, and which verifies self-signatures in a new root metadata file, counted multiple signatures by any new root key towards the new threshold. That is, any single new root key could theoretically provide enough signatures to meet the threshold for new key self-signatures required during root metadata update.
A scenario where this attack could be relevant is amazingly unlikely in practice to the point where labeling this issue as a security advisory is potentially overstating the impact of the issue. Given that new root keys only become trusted by the client after a successful root metadata update, which also requires the quorum of signatures from old trusted root keys, this issue has been evaluated as low in severity.
In particular, in order to exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must:
- Control one new root key.
- Craft a new root metadata file such that there is a number of signatures by this new root key greater than or equal to the new threshold.
- Cause a valid threshold of the old root keys to sign this new root metadata file.
- Cause this new root metadata file to be published on the repository.
- Cause clients to rotate to this new root metadata file.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Remediation advice
A fix is available since version 0.16.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-R7VQ-6425-J94W? GHSA-R7VQ-6425-J94W is a low-severity security vulnerability in tuf (pip), affecting versions >= 0.14.0, <= 0.15.0. It is fixed in 0.16.0.
- Which versions of tuf are affected by GHSA-R7VQ-6425-J94W? tuf (pip) versions >= 0.14.0, <= 0.15.0 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-R7VQ-6425-J94W? Yes. GHSA-R7VQ-6425-J94W is fixed in 0.16.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-R7VQ-6425-J94W exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-R7VQ-6425-J94W is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether GHSA-R7VQ-6425-J94W is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix GHSA-R7VQ-6425-J94W? Upgrade
tufto 0.16.0 or later.