pypqc private key retrieval vulnerability
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub.
Summary
### Impact `kyber512`, `kyber768`, and `kyber1024` only: An attacker able to submit many decapsulation requests against a single private key, and to gain timing information about the decapsulation, could recover the private key. Proof-of-concept exploit exists for a local attacker. CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C ### Patches Version 0.0.6.1 and newer of PyPQC is patched. ### Workarounds No workarounds have been reported. The 0.0.6 -> 0.0.6.1 upgrade should be a drop-in replacement; it has no known breaking changes. ### References #### Timeline 1. Cryspen researchers privately reported KyberSlash to the reference implementation maintainers. 2. Peter Schwabe partially patched KyberSlash \(only "KyberSlash 1"\) in the reference implementation on December 1st, 2023, but did not document or advertise this as a security patch. https://www.github.com/pq-crystals/kyber/commit/dda29cc63af721981ee2c831cf00822e69be3220 3. Daniel J. Bernstein publicly reported KyberSlash as a security issue on December 15th, 2023. https://groups.google.com/a/list.nist.gov/g/pqc-forum/c/hWqFJCucuj4/m/-Z-jm_k9AAAJ 4. Daniel J. Bernstein created a webpage for authoritative reference about KyberSlash on December 19th, 2023. https://kyberslash.cr.yp.to/ 5. Thom Wiggers acknowledged KyberSlash as a security issue on December 19th, 2023. https://www.github.com/PQClean/PQClean/issues/533 6. Prasanna Ravi and Matthias Kannwischer privately reported further details about KyberSlash \("KyberSlash 2"\) to the reference implementation maintainers. 7. Peter Schwabe completely patched KyberSlash in the reference implementation on December 29th, 2023. https://www.github.com/pq-crystals/kyber/commit/11d00ff1f20cfca1f72d819e5a45165c1e0a2816 8. Prasanna Ravi and Matthias Kannwischer publicly reported their findings \("KyberSlash 2"\) on December 30th, 2023. https://groups.google.com/a/list.nist.gov/g/pqc-forum/c/ldX0ThYJuBo/m/ovODsdY7AwAJ 9. Daniel J. Bernstein published a proof-of-concept exploit \(only validated for a local attacker\) for KyberSlash on December 30th, 2023. https://groups.google.com/a/list.nist.gov/g/pqc-forum/c/ldX0ThYJuBo/m/uIOqRF5BAwAJ 10. Thom Wiggers completely patched KyberSlash in PQClean on January 25th, 2024. https://www.github.com/PQClean/PQClean/commit/3b43bc6fe46fe47be38f87af5019a7f1462ae6dd 11. James E. A. completely patched KyberSlash in pypqc and released a security update on January 26th, 2024. https://www.github.com/JamesTheAwesomeDude/pypqc/commit/b33fec8cd36e865f8db6215c64b2d01f429a1ed6
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | pypqc (PyPI) | 0.0.4 to before 0.0.6.1 | 0.0.6.1 | Patch available | GHSA-rc4p-p3j9-6577 |
- pypqc (PyPI) Vendor— Affected 0.0.4 to before 0.0.6.1 Fixed in 0.0.6.1 Patch available GHSA-rc4p-p3j9-6577
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-rc4p-p3j9-6577 pypqc (PyPI) Fixed in 0.0.6.1 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-rc4p-p3j9-6577
References
Other 10
- https://github.com/JamesTheAwesomeDude/pypqc/security/advisories/GHSA-rc4p-p3j9-6577
- https://github.com/JamesTheAwesomeDude/pypqc
- https://groups.google.com/a/list.nist.gov/g/pqc-forum/c/hWqFJCucuj4/m/-Z-jm_k9AAAJ
- https://groups.google.com/a/list.nist.gov/g/pqc-forum/c/ldX0ThYJuBo/m/uIOqRF5BAwAJ
- https://kyberslash.cr.yp.to
- https://www.github.com/JamesTheAwesomeDude/pypqc/commit/b33fec8cd36e865f8db6215c64b2d01f429a1ed6
- https://www.github.com/PQClean/PQClean/issues/533
- https://www.github.com/PQClean/PQClean/pull/534#event-11595728485
- https://www.github.com/pq-crystals/kyber/commit/11d00ff1f20cfca1f72d819e5a45165c1e0a2816
- https://www.github.com/pq-crystals/kyber/commit/dda29cc63af721981ee2c831cf00822e69be3220
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences