CVE-2023-46129Network attack vector

Ciphertext disclosure via all-zero encryption key

Published Oct 30, 2023 · Updated Feb 27, 2025

Hard-coded key use in NATS.io NKeys 0.4.0 through 0.4.5 allows remote attackers to decrypt xkeys-protected data. In xkeys Seal and Open, decodePubCurveKey receives the destination array by value, so its copy populates a temporary buffer and leaves the encryption key all zeros. Any party that obtains ciphertext can recover its plaintext, while signing remains unaffected; the effect on NATS Server authentication callouts is undisclosed.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hard-coded key use in NATS.io NKeys 0.4.0 through 0.4.5 allows remote attackers to decrypt xkeys-protected data. In xkeys Seal and Open, decodePubCurveKey receives the destination array by value, so its copy populates a temporary buffer and leaves the encryption key all zeros. Any party that obtains ciphertext can recover its plaintext, while signing remains unaffected; the effect on NATS Server authentication callouts is undisclosed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-46129
Published
Oct 30, 2023
Updated
Feb 27, 2025
Vendor
NATS.io
Product
NKeys
Classifications
CWE-325, CWE-321
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 30, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 27, 2025Record 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=>= 0.4.0, < 0.4.6
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 2.10.0, < 2.10.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

NATS.io · NKeysversion=>= 0.4.0, < 0.4.6; version=>= 2.10.0, < 2.10.4

Published CVSS scores

7.5GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-325Missing Cryptographic Step
CWE-321Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key

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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