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Vulnerability record · public intelligence
CVE-2026-84961
HIGH

undici vulnerable to TLS certificate validation bypass via dropped connect options in BalancedPool

Published Sep 4, 2026 · Updated Nov 3, 2026

Severity · CVSSHIGH · Not scored
Known exploitationNot listed
EPSS / likelihood0.18%
QFinch risk scoreNot available

Original summary

Normalized public record · Updated Nov 3, 2026

undici vulnerable to TLS certificate validation bypass via dropped connect options in BalancedPool

Publisher and source text is retained separately from QFinch interpretation.

QFinch assessment

undici's `BalancedPool` passes its constructor options through a JSON-based deep clone (`JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(...))`) before forwarding them to each per-upstream `Pool`. JSON cannot represent functions, so a caller-supplied `connect` or `tls` option containing a `checkServerIdentity` callback (or a custom connector function) is silently dropped before it reaches the TLS layer. As a result, a TLS peer whose certificate a custom `checkServerIdentity` was written to reject, but which passes Node's default hostname and chain checks, is silently accepted when the request is made through `BalancedPool`. `Client`, `Pool`, `Agent`, and `RoundRobinPool` destructure `connect`/`tls` before the clone and are not affected. Only applications that use `BalancedPool` with a function-valued `connect`/`tls` option (such as a custom `checkServerIdentity` or connector) are affected.

Potential impact

undici's BalancedPool passes its constructor options through a JSON-based deep clone (JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(...))) before forwarding them to each per-upstream Pool. JSON cannot represent functions, so a caller-supplied connect or tls option containing a checkServerIdentity callback (or a custom connector function) is silently dropped before it reaches the TLS layer. As a result, a TLS peer whose certificate a custom checkServerIdentity was written to reject, but which passes Node's default hostname and chain checks, is silently accepted when the request is made through BalancedPool. Client, Pool, Agent, and RoundRobinPool destructure connect/tls before the clone and are not affected. Only applications that use BalancedPool with a function-valued connect/tls option (such as a custom checkServerIdentity or connector) are affected.

Evidence: public source records

Affected products

Affected scope reported by the available public evidence
Affected package, product or rangeFix status
Consult the referenced vendor advisory for affected versions.Consult source advisory

Matching a version is only one part of assessing exposure. QFinch has not assessed your environment on this public page.

Remediation

Apply the vendor-supported fixed release or mitigation, then verify the affected component is no longer reachable.

  1. Confirm the affected product and reachable code path exist in your environment.
  2. Apply the vendor-supported patch or mitigation from the primary advisory.
  3. Rescan the exact deployed revision and retain verification evidence.
Review primary references

Evidence coverage

FIRST-EPSSCVE-LIST-V5
SSVC priority
MEDIUM
Confidence
Not available
Aliases
None reported

Scores appear only when corresponding evidence exists. Missing data is never interpreted as zero risk.

Sources and record history

  1. Security advisory ↗
  2. cna.openjsf.org ↗

Record history

Published Sep 4, 2026 · Last refreshed Nov 3, 2026