BN_mod_exp may produce incorrect results on MIPS
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
There is a carry propagation bug in the MIPS32 and MIPS64 squaring procedure. Many EC algorithms are affected, including some of the TLS 1.3 default curves. Impact was not analyzed in detail, because the pre-requisites for attack are considered unlikely and include reusing private keys. Analysis suggests that attacks against RSA and DSA as a result of this defect would be very difficult to perform and are not believed likely. Attacks against DH are considered just feasible (although very difficult) because most of the work necessary to deduce information about a private key may be performed offline. The amount of resources required for such an attack would be significant. However, for an attack on TLS to be meaningful, the server would have to share the DH private key among multiple clients, which is no longer an option since CVE-2016-0701. This issue affects OpenSSL versions 1.0.2, 1.1.1 and 3.0.0. It was addressed in the releases of 1.1.1m and 3.0.1 on the 15th of December 2021. For the 1.0.2 release it is addressed in git commit 6fc1aaaf3 that is available to premium support customers only. It will be made available in 1.0.2zc when it is released. The issue only affects OpenSSL on MIPS platforms. Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.1 (Affected 3.0.0). Fixed in OpenSSL 1.1.1m (Affected 1.1.1-1.1.1l). Fixed in OpenSSL 1.0.2zc-dev (Affected 1.0.2-1.0.2zb).
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenSSL | OpenSSL | Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.1 (Affected 3.0.0); Fixed in OpenSSL 1.1.1m (Affected 1.1.1-1.1.1l); Fixed in OpenSSL 1.0.2zc-dev (Affected 1.0.2-1.0.2zb) | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- OpenSSL VendorOpenSSL Affected Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.1 (Affected 3.0.0); Fixed in OpenSSL 1.1.1m (Affected 1.1.1-1.1.1l); Fixed in OpenSSL 1.0.2zc-dev (Affected 1.0.2-1.0.2zb) Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 34
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0.2 – 1.0.2zb; 1.1.1 to before 1.1.1m | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha1 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha10:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha10 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha11:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha11 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha12:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha12 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha13:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha13 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha14:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha14 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha15:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha15 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha16:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha16 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.2 – 1.0.2zb; 1.1.1 to before 1.1.1m Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha1 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha10:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha10 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha11:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha11 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha12:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha12 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha13:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha13 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha14:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha14 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha15:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha15 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha16:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha16 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
Show 24 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha17:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha17 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha2 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha3 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha4 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha5 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha6 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha7 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha8:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha8 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha9:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 alpha9 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 beta1 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 beta2 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:health_sciences_inform_publisher:6.2.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.2.1.1 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:health_sciences_inform_publisher:6.3.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.3.1.1 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:jd_edwards_enterpriseone_tools:9.2.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.2.6.3 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:jd_edwards_world_security:a9.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | a9.4 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:peoplesoft_enterprise_peopletools:8.58:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.58 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:peoplesoft_enterprise_peopletools:8.59:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.59 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:a:siemens:sinec_ins:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.0 | Vulnerable | Siemens |
| cpe:2.3:a:siemens:sinec_ins:1.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0 | Vulnerable | Siemens |
| cpe:2.3:a:siemens:sinec_ins:1.0:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0 sp1 | Vulnerable | Siemens |
| cpe:2.3:a:oracle:enterprise_manager_ops_center:12.4.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 12.4.0.0 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha17:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha17 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha2 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha3 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha4 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha5 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha6 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha7 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha8:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha8 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:alpha9:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 alpha9 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 beta1 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 beta2 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:health_sciences_inform_publisher:6.2.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.2.1.1 Vulnerable ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:health_sciences_inform_publisher:6.3.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.3.1.1 Vulnerable ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:jd_edwards_enterpriseone_tools:9.2.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.2.6.3 Vulnerable ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:jd_edwards_world_security:a9.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions a9.4 Vulnerable ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:peoplesoft_enterprise_peopletools:8.58:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.58 Vulnerable ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:peoplesoft_enterprise_peopletools:8.59:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.59 Vulnerable ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:a:siemens:sinec_ins:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.0 Vulnerable ·Siemens
- cpe:2.3:a:siemens:sinec_ins:1.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0 Vulnerable ·Siemens
- cpe:2.3:a:siemens:sinec_ins:1.0:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0 sp1 Vulnerable ·Siemens
- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:enterprise_manager_ops_center:12.4.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.4.0.0 Vulnerable ·Oracle
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 8 products
- Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes 2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat JBoss Core Services
- Red Hat JBoss Web Server 3
- Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-4160
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-ph2x-8239-7xc7
References
Advisory 5
Other 4
- https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=3bf7b73ea7123045b8f972badc67ed6878e6c37f
- https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=e9e726506cd2a3fd9c0f12daf8cc1fe934c7dddb
- https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=6fc1aaaf303185aa5e483e06bdfae16daa9193a7
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240621-0006/
More Openssl vulnerabilities
- TI-2022-01915 The c_rehash script allows command injection CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-02645 SM2 Decryption Buffer Overflow CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2009-03392 The TLS protocol, and the SSL protocol 3.0 and possibly earlier, as used in Microsoft… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-01176 The c_rehash script allows command injection CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2014-00154 The (1) TLS and (2) DTLS implementations in OpenSSL 1.0.1 before 1.0.1g do not properly… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-14107 Stack buffer overflow in CMS (Auth)EnvelopedData parsing CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-4160 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-4160 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-ph2x-8239-7xc7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-4160 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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