CVE-2020-28498Network attack vector

Private-key recovery via unchecked ECDH public points

Published Feb 2, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Invalid-curve ECDH in Fedor Indutny Elliptic before 6.5.4 allows remote attackers to recover a private key through repeated exchanges. The KeyPair.derive method multiplies an unvalidated peer-supplied point by the local private scalar instead of first confirming that the point lies on secp256k1. Exploitation requires an application to perform repeated ECDH derivations with attacker-controlled public points, exposing the private key but not directly altering data or interrupting service.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability1.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Invalid-curve ECDH in Fedor Indutny Elliptic before 6.5.4 allows remote attackers to recover a private key through repeated exchanges. The KeyPair.derive method multiplies an unvalidated peer-supplied point by the local private scalar instead of first confirming that the point lies on secp256k1. Exploitation requires an application to perform repeated ECDH derivations with attacker-controlled public points, exposing the private key but not directly altering data or interrupting service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-28498
Published
Feb 2, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Fedor Indutny
Product
Elliptic
Classifications
CWE-327, T1552.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 2, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 6.5.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Fedor Indutny · Ellipticversion=< 6.5.4

Published CVSS scores

6.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-327Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm
T1552.004Unsecured Credentials: Private Keys

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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