Secret recovery via timing-dependent matrix pivots
Published Mar 14, 2025 · Updated Mar 19, 2025
Timing side channels in PostQuantum-Feldman-VSS 0.8.0b2 and earlier allow local users to recover VSS secret information. The _find_secure_pivot branch tests secret-dependent matrix values during _secure_matrix_solve, causing measurable execution-time differences. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access, repeated crafted calls, precise timing measurements, and statistical analysis; success exposes polynomial coefficients and the shared secret.
Summary
What happened
Timing side channels in PostQuantum-Feldman-VSS 0.8.0b2 and earlier allow local users to recover VSS secret information. The _find_secure_pivot branch tests secret-dependent matrix values during _secure_matrix_solve, causing measurable execution-time differences. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access, repeated crafted calls, precise timing measurements, and statistical analysis; success exposes polynomial coefficients and the shared secret.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-29780
- Published
- Mar 14, 2025
- Updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Vendor
- David Osipov
- Product
- PostQuantum-Feldman-VSS
- Classifications
- CWE-385, CWE-208, CWE-203, T1005
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 14, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 19, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=<= 0.8.0b2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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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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