CVE-2024-54137Network attack vector

Incorrect shared secrets via misindexed secret-key fields

Published Dec 6, 2024 · Updated Dec 10, 2024

HQC decapsulation error in Open Quantum Safe liboqs before 0.12.0 allows remote attackers to derive wrong shared secrets from malformed ciphertexts. The HQC-128, HQC-192, and HQC-256 decapsulation functions locate the embedded public key without advancing past the added sigma field, then construct a comparison mask that fails to trigger implicit rejection. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled ciphertext to reach HQC decapsulation with a secret key; malformed input is accepted and application key agreement can diverge, although the vendor reports no concrete attack.

CVSS severity7.4
High
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

HQC decapsulation error in Open Quantum Safe liboqs before 0.12.0 allows remote attackers to derive wrong shared secrets from malformed ciphertexts. The HQC-128, HQC-192, and HQC-256 decapsulation functions locate the embedded public key without advancing past the added sigma field, then construct a comparison mask that fails to trigger implicit rejection. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled ciphertext to reach HQC decapsulation with a secret key; malformed input is accepted and application key agreement can diverge, although the vendor reports no concrete attack.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-54137
Published
Dec 6, 2024
Updated
Dec 10, 2024
Vendor
Open Quantum Safe
Product
liboqs
Classifications
CWE-200
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 6, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 10, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <0.12.0
  2. Affected versionversion=< 0.12.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Open Quantum Safe · liboqsversion=0 <0.12.0; version=< 0.12.0

Published CVSS scores

7.4GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor

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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