SignXML is an implementation of the W3C XML Signature standard in Python. When verifying signatures with X509 certificate validation turned off and HMAC shared secret set (signxml.XMLVerifier.verify(require_x509=False, hmac_key=...), versions of SignXML prior to 4.0.4 are vulnerable to a potential algorithm confusion attack. Unless the user explicitly limits the expected signature algorithms using the signxml.XMLVerifier.verify(expect_config=...) setting, an attacker may supply a signature unexpectedly signed with a key other than the provided HMAC key, using a different (asymmetric key) signature algorithm. Starting with SignXML 4.0.4, specifying hmac_key causes the set of accepted signature algorithms to be restricted to HMAC only, if not already restricted by the user.
The requirements for the product dictate the use of an established authentication algorithm, but the implementation of the algorithm is incorrect.