Matrix iOS SDK vulnerable ton Olm/Megolm protocol confusion
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-287.
Summary
Matrix iOS SDK allows developers to build iOS apps compatible with Matrix. Prior to version 0.23.19, an attacker cooperating with a malicious homeserver can construct messages that legitimately appear to have come from another person, without any indication such as a grey shield. Additionally, a sophisticated attacker cooperating with a malicious homeserver could employ this vulnerability to perform a targeted attack in order to send fake to-device messages appearing to originate from another user. This can allow, for example, to inject the key backup secret during a self-verification, to make a targeted device start using a malicious key backup spoofed by the homeserver. These attacks are possible due to a protocol confusion vulnerability that accepts to-device messages encrypted with Megolm instead of Olm. matrix-ios-sdk version 0.23.19 has been modified to only accept Olm-encrypted to-device messages. Out of caution, several other checks have been audited or added. This attack requires coordination between a malicious home server and an attacker, so those who trust their home servers do not need a workaround. To avoid malicious backup attacks, one should not verify one's new logins using emoji/QR verifications methods until patched.
Why it matters now
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| matrix-org | matrix-ios-sdk | before 0.23.19 | 0.23.19 | Patch available | CNA |
- matrix-ios-sdk Vendormatrix-org Affected before 0.23.19 Fixed in 0.23.19 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:matrix:software_development_kit:*:*:*:*:*:iphone_os:*:* | before 0.23.19 | Vulnerable | matrix-org |
- cpe:2.3:a:matrix:software_development_kit:*:*:*:*:*:iphone_os:*:* Versions before 0.23.19 Vulnerable ·matrix-org
Remediation
- Fix · CNA matrix-ios-sdk (matrix-org) Fixed in 0.23.19
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-39255
References
More matrix-org Software Development Kit vulnerabilities
- TI-2022-18624 matrix-android-sdk2 vulnerable to Olm/Megolm protocol confusion CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
- TI-2022-18633 Matrix iOS SDK vulnerable to impersonation via forwarded Megolm sessions CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2022-18623 matrix-android-sdk2 vulnerable to impersonation via forwarded Megolm sessions CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences