Encrypted-content disclosure via half-entropy AES keys
Published Dec 6, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024
Insufficient entropy in PubNub client SDKs allows remote attackers to recover encrypted message or file contents through brute force. The getKey function hex-encodes and trims AES-256-CBC key material, leaving half of the derived key bits constant across encrypted content. Exploitation requires prepared ciphertext analysis and substantial brute-force work; the bounded consequence is disclosure of protected content.
Summary
What happened
Insufficient entropy in PubNub client SDKs allows remote attackers to recover encrypted message or file contents through brute force. The getKey function hex-encodes and trims AES-256-CBC key material, leaving half of the derived key bits constant across encrypted content. Exploitation requires prepared ciphertext analysis and substantial brute-force work; the bounded consequence is disclosure of protected content.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-26154
- Published
- Dec 6, 2023
- Updated
- Aug 2, 2024
- Vendor
- PubNub
- Product
- PubNub Go SDK
- Classifications
- CWE-331
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 2, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <*
- Affected versionversion=0 <7.2.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- AES key entropy proof artifactproof of concept · unverified
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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