CVE-2005-2946: The default configuration on OpenSSL before 0.9.8 uses MD5 for creating message digests instead of a more c...

Security readout for executives and security teams

OpenSSL versions before 0.9.8 could default to MD5 when creating message digests. MD5 collision weaknesses can let attackers make certificate forgery easier, potentially undermining trust in certificates created by affected systems. Exposure is most relevant where legacy OpenSSL before 0.9.8 remains in certificate generation, CA, TLS proxy, appliance, or embedded workflows. Modern maintained systems are less likely exposed. Treat this as legacy cryptography risk. Prioritize environments that issue or validate certificates, especially older appliances and unsupported systems, before general endpoint cleanup. Mitigation focus: Inventory systems and products using OpenSSL before 0.9.8.; Apply relevant vendor updates or OpenSSL 0.9.8-or-later guidance.; Check Ubuntu USN-179-1 where Ubuntu packages are involved..

Prepared

Jun 29, 2026, 17:57 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.