Private-key recovery via variable-top nonce inversion
Published Jan 20, 2025 · Updated Mar 18, 2026
Covert timing channel in OpenSSL ECDSA signing allows attackers to recover private keys by measuring signature timing. The ec_field_inverse_mod_ord path used a variable-top BIGNUM result for nonce inversion, making operations about 300 nanoseconds faster when its top word was zero. Exploitation requires P-521 signing and either a process on the same physical computer or a very fast, low-latency network connection; FIPS modules in 3.0 through 3.4 are affected.
Summary
What happened
Covert timing channel in OpenSSL ECDSA signing allows attackers to recover private keys by measuring signature timing. The ec_field_inverse_mod_ord path used a variable-top BIGNUM result for nonce inversion, making operations about 300 nanoseconds faster when its top word was zero. Exploitation requires P-521 signing and either a process on the same physical computer or a very fast, low-latency network connection; FIPS modules in 3.0 through 3.4 are affected.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-13176
- Published
- Jan 20, 2025
- Updated
- Mar 18, 2026
- Vendor
- OpenSSL Project
- Product
- OpenSSL
- Classifications
- CWE-385, T1552.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 20, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 18, 2026Record 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=1.0.2 <1.0.2zl
- Affected versionversion=1.1.1 <1.1.1zb
- Affected versionversion=3.0.0 <3.0.16
- Affected versionversion=3.1.0 <3.1.8
- Affected versionversion=3.2.0 <3.2.4
- Affected versionversion=3.3.0 <3.3.3
- Affected versionversion=3.4.0 <3.4.1
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
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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