CVE-2025-52556
rfc3161-client has insufficient verification for timestamp response signatures
rfc3161-client is a Python library implementing the Time-Stamp Protocol (TSP) described in RFC 3161. Prior to version 1.0.3, there is a flaw in the timestamp response signature verification logic. In particular, chain verification is performed against the TSR's embedded certificates up to the trusted root(s), but fails to verify the TSR's own signature against the timestamping leaf certificates. Consequently, vulnerable versions perform insufficient signature validation to properly consider a TSR verified, as the attacker can introduce any TSR signature so long as the embedded leaf chains up to some root TSA. This issue has been patched in version 1.0.3. There is no workaround for this issue.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
9.3
rfc3161-client has insufficient verification for timestamp response signatures
rfc3161-client is a Python library implementing the Time-Stamp Protocol (TSP) described in RFC 3161. Prior to version 1.0.3, there is a flaw in the timestamp response signature verification logic. In particular, chain verification is performed against the TSR's embedded certificates up to the trusted root(s), but fails to verify the TSR's own signature against the timestamping leaf certificates. Consequently, vulnerable versions perform insufficient signature validation to properly consider a TSR verified, as the attacker can introduce any TSR signature so long as the embedded leaf chains up to some root TSA. This issue has been patched in version 1.0.3. There is no workaround for this issue.
- Record
CVE-2025-52556- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2025-18798
9.3
rfc3161-client is a Python library implementing the Time-Stamp Protocol (TSP) described in RFC 3161. Prior to version 1.0.3, there is a flaw in the timestamp response signature verification logic. In particular, chain verification is performed against the TSR's embedded certificates up to the trusted root(s), but fails to verify the TSR's own signature against the timestamping leaf certificates. Consequently, vulnerable versions perform insufficient signature validation to properly consider a TSR verified, as the attacker can introduce any TSR signature so long as the embedded leaf chains up to some root TSA. This issue has been patched in version 1.0.3. There is no workaround for this issue.
- Record
EUVD-2025-18798- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-6qhv-4h7r-2g9m
9.3
rfc3161-client has insufficient verification for timestamp response signatures
Impact
rfc3161-client 1.0.2 and earlier contain a flaw in their timestamp response signature verification logic. In particular, it performs chain verification against the TSR's embedded certificates up to the trusted root(s), but fails to verify the TSR's own signature against the timestamping leaf certificates. Consequently, vulnerable versions perform insufficient signature validation to properly consider a TSR verified, as the attacker can introduce any TSR signature so long as the embedded leaf chains up to some root TSA.
Patches
Users should immediately upgrade to rfc3161-client 1.0.3 or later.
Workarounds
There is no workaround possible. Users should immediately upgrade to a fixed version.
- Record
GHSA-6qhv-4h7r-2g9m- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
9.3
rfc3161-client is a Python library implementing the Time-Stamp Protocol (TSP) described in RFC 3161. Prior to version 1.0.3, there is a flaw in the timestamp response signature verification logic. In particular, chain verification is performed against the TSR's embedded certificates up to the trusted root(s), but fails to verify the TSR's own signature against the timestamping leaf certificates. Consequently, vulnerable versions perform insufficient signature validation to properly consider a TSR verified, as the attacker can introduce any TSR signature so long as the embedded leaf chains up to some root TSA. This issue has been patched in version 1.0.3. There is no workaround for this issue.
- Record
CVE-2025-52556- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
9.3
rfc3161-client has insufficient verification for timestamp response signatures
rfc3161-client is a Python library implementing the Time-Stamp Protocol (TSP) described in RFC 3161. Prior to version 1.0.3, there is a flaw in the timestamp response signature verification logic. In particular, chain verification is performed against the TSR's embedded certificates up to the trusted root(s), but fails to verify the TSR's own signature against the timestamping leaf certificates. Consequently, vulnerable versions perform insufficient signature validation to properly consider a TSR verified, as the attacker can introduce any TSR signature so long as the embedded leaf chains up to some root TSA. This issue has been patched in version 1.0.3. There is no workaround for this issue.
- Record
CVE-2025-52556- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-6qhv-4h7r-2g9m
9.3
rfc3161-client has insufficient verification for timestamp response signatures
Impact
rfc3161-client 1.0.2 and earlier contain a flaw in their timestamp response signature verification logic. In particular, it performs chain verification against the TSR's embedded certificates up to the trusted root(s), but fails to verify the TSR's own signature against the timestamping leaf certificates. Consequently, vulnerable versions perform insufficient signature validation to properly consider a TSR verified, as the attacker can introduce any TSR signature so long as the embedded leaf chains up to some root TSA.
Patches
Users should immediately upgrade to rfc3161-client 1.0.3 or later.
Workarounds
There is no workaround possible. Users should immediately upgrade to a fixed version.
- Record
GHSA-6qhv-4h7r-2g9m- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2026-525
9.3
rfc3161-client has insufficient verification for timestamp response signatures
Impact
rfc3161-client 1.0.2 and earlier contain a flaw in their timestamp response signature verification logic. In particular, it performs chain verification against the TSR's embedded certificates up to the trusted root(s), but fails to verify the TSR's own signature against the timestamping leaf certificates. Consequently, vulnerable versions perform insufficient signature validation to properly consider a TSR verified, as the attacker can introduce any TSR signature so long as the embedded leaf chains up to some root TSA.
Patches
Users should immediately upgrade to rfc3161-client 1.0.3 or later.
Workarounds
There is no workaround possible. Users should immediately upgrade to a fixed version.
- Record
PYSEC-2026-525- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2025:15282-1 No score
python311-rfc3161-client-1.0.3-1.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the python311-rfc3161-client-1.0.3-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2025:15282-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
rfc3161-clientPyPI |
through 1.0.2 | 1.0.3 |
rfc3161-clientPyPI |
before 1.0.3, plus listed versions 0.0.20.0.30.0.40.1.00.1.1 Show 4 moreShow less0.1.21.0.01.0.11.0.2 |
1.0.3 |
python-rfc3161-clientopenSUSE:Tumbleweed |
before 1.0.3-1.1 | 1.0.3-1.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2025-52556 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.3) in Trailofbits Rfc3161-client, published June 20, 2025. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.17%, the 6th percentile. Fixed in rfc3161-client 1.0.3.
References
github.com/trailofbits/rfc3161-client/security/advisories/GHSA-6qhv-4h7r-2g9m
github.com/trailofbits/rfc3161-client/commit/724a184f953e3f171f85cb223871172b41b0d0dc
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-52556
github.com/advisories/GHSA-6qhv-4h7r-2g9m
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2025/52xxx/CVE-2025-52556.json
github.com/trailofbits/rfc3161-client
pypi.org/project/rfc3161-client
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-52556