Improper input validation in nettle
Priority MEDIUM 44CWE-20Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
A flaw was found in the way nettle's RSA decryption functions handled specially crafted ciphertext. An attacker could use this flaw to provide a manipulated ciphertext leading to application crash and denial of service.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.02708 86th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 2 fixed, 1 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | nettle | nettle 3.7.3 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- nettle Vendor— Affected nettle 3.7.3 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:nettle_project:nettle:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 3.7.3 | Vulnerable | Nettle Project |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
- cpe:2.3:a:nettle_project:nettle:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.7.3 Vulnerable ·Nettle Project
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2021:4451 Released 2021-11-09 · Red Hat rating Moderategnutls and nettle security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) gnutls-c++-3.6.16-4.el8, gnutls-dane-3.6.16-4.el8, gnutls-devel-3.6.16-4.el8 +2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) gnutls-3.6.16-4.el8, nettle-3.4.1-7.el8
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:4451 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:4451 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-3580
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-52fp-4722-wcjw
References
Sources
- CVE-2021-3580 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-3580 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-52fp-4722-wcjw · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-3580 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences