CVE-2026-54174: melange Incomplete Package Integrity Verification Allows Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fpg8-7664-jc5q
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CVSS 8.3
CWE-345 CWE-354
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-54174 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.3) incomplete package integrity verification allows vulnerability (CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity) affecting melange libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves incomplete package integrity verification allows data section substitution. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.2.9, 0.50.4.

CVE-2026-54174 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-54174
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fpg8-7664-jc5q
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.3
CWE Classification CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
Affected Product melange
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.3

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2026-54174

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected melange dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

chainguard.dev/apko fixed: 1.2.9 
Upgrade chainguard.dev/apko to 1.2.9
chainguard.dev/melange fixed: 0.50.4 
Upgrade chainguard.dev/melange to 0.50.4
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for chainguard.dev/apko

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2026-54174, inspect your project dependencies for melange:

inspect dependencies for chainguard.dev/apko

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of melange in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.2.9), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity, where the product does not sufficiently verify the origin or authenticity of data, in a way that causes it to accept invalid data. In melange, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Previously, Apko verified the control section hash (`.PKGINFO` etc.) against the signed `APKINDEX`, but never verified the data section hash (the actual package files that get installed). An attacker who could compromise a mirror, poison a cache, or MITM a package fetch could substitute arbitrary file contents while the control hash check still passed.

CVE-2026-54174 Affected melange Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.2.90.50.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
chainguard.dev/apko
golang/chainguard.dev/apko
Go
< 1.2.9
1.2.9
chainguard.dev/melange
golang/chainguard.dev/melange
Go
< 0.50.4
0.50.4

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/chainguard-dev/melange/security/advisories/GHSA-fpg8-7664-jc5q
melange Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/chainguard-dev/melange

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-54174?
CVE-2026-54174 is a security vulnerability in melange involving Incomplete package integrity verification allows data section substitution under CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity.
Which melange versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.2.9, 0.50.4 across affected packages: chainguard.dev/apko, chainguard.dev/melange.
What version fixes CVE-2026-54174?
Upgrading to 1.2.9, 0.50.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is chainguard.dev/apko affected?
Yes, chainguard.dev/apko is affected in releases prior to 1.2.9. Upgrade your dependency to 1.2.9 or later.
Is chainguard.dev/melange affected?
Yes, chainguard.dev/melange is affected in releases prior to 0.50.4. Upgrade your dependency to 0.50.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-54174?
CVE-2026-54174 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.3 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-54174?
CVE-2026-54174 is classified under CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity (The product does not sufficiently verify the origin or authenticity of data, in a way that causes it to accept invalid data.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2026-54174?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for chainguard.dev/apko'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-fpg8-7664-jc5q",
  "modified" : "2026-07-10T21:43:05Z",
  "published" : "2026-07-10T21:43:05Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-54174" ],
  "summary" : "melange: Incomplete package integrity verification allows data section substitution",
  "details" : "Previously, Apko verified the control section hash (`.PKGINFO` etc.) against the signed `APKINDEX`, but never verified the data section hash (the actual package files that get installed). An attacker who could compromise a mirror, poison a cache, or MITM a package fetch could substitute arbitrary file contents while the control hash check still passed.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "chainguard.dev/apko"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.2.9"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "chainguard.dev/melange"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "0.50.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/chainguard-dev/melange/security/advisories/GHSA-fpg8-7664-jc5q"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/chainguard-dev/melange"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-345", "CWE-354" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-07-10T21:43:05Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}