CVE-2026-107382: MariaDB Connector/Node.js: Uncaught exception crashes the client during ed25519 authentication with zero-configuration TLS
Description On the zero-configuration TLS path, the connector accepts a self-signed server certificate at the TLS level and then validates the server's identity from the fingerprint hash the server appends to the final OKPacket (Authentication.validateFingerPrint). That validation calls hash() on the authentication plugin in use to obtain the password-derived secret both sides combine with the seed and the certificate fingerprint.
Ed25519PasswordAuth.hash() referenced an identifier seed that was not in scope: it was neither a parameter of the method nor a module-scope binding, existing only as a parameter of the unrelated static encryptPassword(password, seed). Invoking the method therefore threw ReferenceError: seed is not defined.
The throw happens synchronously inside the socket data handler, and no frame between PacketInputStream.onData() and the plugin guards it, so the error escapes as an uncaught exception rather than surfacing as a connection error.
Because the fingerprint hash is what a legitimate MariaDB server sends on this path, ed25519 authentication with zero-configuration TLS never completed successfully — the failure is not limited to a hostile server.
Impact Denial of service against the client process. Under Node's default uncaughtException behaviour the process exits, so a long-running service is terminated rather than seeing a failed connection attempt. No credential is disclosed and no data is altered; the impact is availability only.
An unauthenticated attacker able to intercept the connection (a MitM presenting a self-signed certificate, or a compromised server) can trigger the crash at will, since the self-signed-certificate path is precisely what such an attacker exercises and the rogue server only has to answer the ed25519 challenge with an OKPacket carrying a 0x01-prefixed validation hash.
Exposure requires all of the following: a MariaDB server reached over TCP (not a unix socket), ssl: true or an ssl object without rejectUnauthorized: false, a password set, no ssl.ca provided, and cliented25519 as the negotiated authentication plugin. Other authentication plugins are unaffected, as is any configuration where the server certificate is verified against a provided CA.
Resolution Ed25519PasswordAuth.hash() now returns the Ed25519 public key derived from the password scalar, which is the value the server combines into the fingerprint hash, and the derivation is covered by unit and integration tests.
Fixed in 3.5.4. The 3.3.x and 3.4.x maintenance branches are not patched; upgrade to 3.5.4 or later.
Workarounds Provide the server certificate to the client (ssl: { ca: ... }) so standard certificate validation is used instead of fingerprint validation, or set ssl: { rejectUnauthorized: false } to opt into trust mode, or use an authentication plugin other than cliented25519, until upgraded.
Credit Reported by fg0x0.
Other sources
MariaDB Connector/Node.js is used to connect applications developed on Node.js to MariaDB and MySQL databases. From 3.3.0 until 3.5.4, the zero-configuration TLS fingerprint-validation path calls Ed25519PasswordAuth.hash() through Authentication.validateFingerPrint, but Ed25519PasswordAuth.hash() references a seed identifier that is not in scope. Exposure requires a MariaDB server reached over TCP, TLS enabled with ssl: true or an ssl object whose rejectUnauthorized value is not false, a password set, no ssl.ca configured, and cliented25519 negotiated as the authentication plugin. Under those conditions, a legitimate server, malicious server, or network attacker presenting a self-signed certificate can reach this path and cause a synchronous ReferenceError to escape the socket data handler. Under Node.js default uncaught-exception behavior, the client process terminates, causing denial of service. Configurations using a provided CA, rejectUnauthorized: false, another authentication plugin, or a Unix socket do not reach this vulnerable path. This issue is fixed in version 3.5.4.
— MITRE
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/mariadbto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 3.5.4 - Upgrade
Upgrade
MariaDB Connector/Node.jsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 3.5.4 - Configuration
Until upgraded, avoid the vulnerable zero-configuration TLS path by providing the server certificate with ssl.ca, setting ssl: { rejectUnauthorized: false }, or using an authentication plugin other than client_ed25519.
MariaDB Connector/Node.js TLS and authentication configuration = Provide ssl.ca, or set ssl.rejectUnauthorized to false, or use an authentication plugin other than client_ed25519
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which deployments are exposed to this denial-of-service condition?
Affected deployments use MariaDB Connector/Node.js from 3.3.0 through 3.5.4 over TCP with TLS enabled, a password configured, no ssl.ca configured, and client_ed25519 negotiated. The TLS configuration must use ssl: true or an ssl object where rejectUnauthorized is not false.
Can an unauthenticated attacker trigger the crash?
Yes. A malicious server or network attacker that can present a self-signed certificate can reach the vulnerable path under the affected configuration. A legitimate server can also trigger it when the listed conditions are met.
What configurations are not affected?
Connections using a provided CA, rejectUnauthorized: false, an authentication plugin other than client_ed25519, or a Unix socket do not reach the vulnerable code path.
What should be done if upgrading is not immediately possible?
Avoid the zero-configuration TLS fingerprint-validation path by configuring ssl.ca, using a different authentication plugin, or connecting over a Unix socket where applicable. The issue is fixed in version 3.5.4.
How would this appear during exploitation?
The client encounters a synchronous ReferenceError that escapes the socket data handler. Under Node.js default uncaught-exception behavior, the client process terminates.