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TI-2025-32600 Aliases CVE-2025-52473

liboqs secret-dependent branching in HQC reference implementation when compiled with Clang 17-20

Priority LOW 26CWE-200Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
Information disclosure
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · None · None
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-200.

Summary

liboqs is a C-language cryptographic library that provides implementations of post-quantum cryptography algorithms. Multiple secret-dependent branches have been identified in the reference implementation of the HQC key encapsulation mechanism when it is compiled with Clang for optimization levels above -O0 (-O1, -O2, etc). A proof-of-concept local attack exploits this secret-dependent information to recover the entire secret key. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.14.0.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00235 14th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial liboqs (open-quantum-safe): 0.14.0Red Hat: 1 without a fix

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
open-quantum-safeliboqsbefore 0.14.00.14.0Patch availableCNA
  • liboqs Vendoropen-quantum-safe Affected before 0.14.0 Fixed in 0.14.0 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:openquantumsafe:liboqs:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 0.14.0Vulnerableopen-quantum-safe
  • cpe:2.3:a:openquantumsafe:liboqs:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 0.14.0 Vulnerable ·open-quantum-safe

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA liboqs (open-quantum-safe) Fixed in 0.14.0

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-52473

References

Patch 1

Advisory 1

  • TI-2024-20867 An issue in Open Quantum Safe liboqs v.10.0 allows a remote attacker to escalate… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2024-36253 liboqs has a correctness error in HQC decapsulation CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2024-24191 Control-flow timing leak in Kyber reference implementation when compiled with Clang 15-18 for -Os, -O1 and other options CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2026-34064 liboqs: Heap-buffer-overflow in XMSS verification path via OID-controlled parameter mismatch (xmss_commons.c:194) CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
  • TI-2026-32448 liboqs: XMSS Buffer Overread Bug CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
  • TI-2025-31084 liboqs affected by theoretical design flaw in HQC CVSS 3.1LOW 3.7

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences