Permanent key denial via future handshake timestamp
Published Jan 29, 2023 · Updated Mar 28, 2025
Denial of service in WireGuard 0.5.3 on Windows allows remote attackers to permanently disable a static private key via manipulated system time. A hijacked unauthenticated NTP source advances the initiator clock, whose TAI64N handshake timestamp becomes the responder's greatest stored value and can be replayed indefinitely. Exploitation requires control of the victim's time source and an initiation message; the affected key can no longer establish its VPN tunnel.
Summary
What happened
Denial of service in WireGuard 0.5.3 on Windows allows remote attackers to permanently disable a static private key via manipulated system time. A hijacked unauthenticated NTP source advances the initiator clock, whose TAI64N handshake timestamp becomes the responder's greatest stored value and can be replayed indefinitely. Exploitation requires control of the victim's time source and an initiation message; the affected key can no longer establish its VPN tunnel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-46873
- Published
- Jan 29, 2023
- Updated
- Mar 28, 2025
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 29, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 28, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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What is affected?
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Attacks
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Technologies
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