RSA ciphertext decryption via timing side channel
Published Sep 7, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Covert timing channel in Node.js privateDecrypt before 18.19.1, 20.11.1, or 21.6.2 allows remote attackers to decrypt RSA ciphertexts. PKCS #1 v1.5 padding errors take measurably different times for valid and invalid ciphertexts, exposing an adaptive decryption oracle. Exploitation requires an attacker-reachable private-key interface that accepts chosen ciphertexts; repeated timing queries also enable signature forgery.
Summary
What happened
Covert timing channel in Node.js privateDecrypt before 18.19.1, 20.11.1, or 21.6.2 allows remote attackers to decrypt RSA ciphertexts. PKCS #1 v1.5 padding errors take measurably different times for valid and invalid ciphertexts, exposing an adaptive decryption oracle. Exploitation requires an attacker-reachable private-key interface that accepts chosen ciphertexts; repeated timing queries also enable signature forgery.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-46809
- Published
- Sep 7, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- Node.js
- Product
- Node.js
- Classifications
- CWE-385
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 7, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 4, 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.
- Affected versionversion=10.0 <10.*
- Affected versionversion=11.0 <11.*
- Affected versionversion=12.0 <12.*
- Affected versionversion=13.0 <13.*
- Affected versionversion=14.0 <14.*
- Affected versionversion=15.0 <15.*
- Affected versionversion=16.0 <16.*
- Affected versionversion=17.0 <17.*
- Affected versionversion=18.0 <18.19.1
- Affected versionversion=19.0 <19.*
- Affected versionversion=20.0 <20.11.1
- Affected versionversion=21.0 <21.6.2
- Affected versionversion=4.0 <4.*
- Affected versionversion=5.0 <5.*
- Affected versionversion=6.0 <6.*
- Affected versionversion=7.0 <7.*
- Affected versionversion=8.0 <8.*
- Affected versionversion=9.0 <9.*
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
- Marvin toolkitproof of concept · demonstrated
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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