Cleartext Signed Message Signature Spoofing in openpgpjs
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Low · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-347.
Summary
OpenPGP.js is a JavaScript implementation of the OpenPGP protocol. In affected versions OpenPGP Cleartext Signed Messages are cryptographically signed messages where the signed text is readable without special tools. These messages typically contain a "Hash: ..." header declaring the hash algorithm used to compute the signature digest. OpenPGP.js up to v5.9.0 ignored any data preceding the "Hash: ..." texts when verifying the signature. As a result, malicious parties could add arbitrary text to a third-party Cleartext Signed Message, to lead the victim to believe that the arbitrary text was signed. A user or application is vulnerable to said attack vector if it verifies the CleartextMessage by only checking the returned `verified` property, discarding the associated `data` information, and instead _visually trusting_ the contents of the original message. Since `verificationResult.data` would always contain the actual signed data, users and apps that check this information are not vulnerable. Similarly, given a CleartextMessage object, retrieving the data using `getText()` or the `text` field returns only the contents that are considered when verifying the signature. Finally, re-armoring a CleartextMessage object (using `armor()` will also result in a "sanitised" version, with the extraneous text being removed. This issue has been addressed in version 5.10.1 (current stable version) which will reject messages when calling `openpgp.readCleartextMessage()` and in version 4.10.11 (legacy version) which will will reject messages when calling `openpgp.cleartext.readArmored()`. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade should check the contents of `verificationResult.data` to see what data was actually signed, rather than visually trusting the contents of the armored message.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| openpgpjs | openpgpjs | before 4.10.11; 5.0.0 to before 5.10.1 | 4.10.11, 5.10.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | openpgp (npm) | before 4.10.11 | 4.10.11 | Patch available | GHSA-ch3c-v47x-4pgp |
| — | openpgp (npm) | 5.0.0 to before 5.10.1 | 5.10.1 | Patch available | GHSA-ch3c-v47x-4pgp |
- openpgpjs Vendoropenpgpjs Affected before 4.10.11; 5.0.0 to before 5.10.1 Fixed in 4.10.11, 5.10.1 Patch available CNA
- openpgp (npm) Vendor— Affected before 4.10.11 Fixed in 4.10.11 Patch available GHSA-ch3c-v47x-4pgp
- openpgp (npm) Vendor— Affected 5.0.0 to before 5.10.1 Fixed in 5.10.1 Patch available GHSA-ch3c-v47x-4pgp
Remediation
- Fix · CNA openpgpjs (openpgpjs) Fixed in 4.10.11, 5.10.1
- Fix · GHSA-ch3c-v47x-4pgp openpgp (npm) Fixed in 4.10.11 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-ch3c-v47x-4pgp openpgp (npm) Fixed in 5.10.1 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-41037
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-ch3c-v47x-4pgp
References
More Openpgpjs vulnerabilities
- TI-2015-06663 s2k.js in OpenPGP.js will decrypt arbitrary messages regardless of passphrase for crafted… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2019-06617 Improper Verification of a Cryptographic Signature in OpenPGP.js <=4.1.2 allows an… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2019-06618 Improper Verification of a Cryptographic Signature in OpenPGP.js <=4.1.2 allows an… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2019-06619 A cryptographic issue in OpenPGP.js <=4.2.0 allows an attacker who is able provide forged… CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 5.9
Sources
- CVE-2023-41037 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-41037 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-ch3c-v47x-4pgp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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