MAC forgery via non-constant-time tag comparison
Published Jul 21, 2026 · Updated Jul 21, 2026
Observable timing discrepancy in Google Tink Java and Tink Android 1.21.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to forge valid MAC tags. ChunkedMacVerificationFromComputation.verifyMac compares the computed tag with tag.equals, whose non-constant-time behavior exposes the matching prefix length through response timing. Exploitation requires repeated, accurately timed verification attempts against an application exposing this operation; a recovered tag permits forged messages to pass integrity checks.
Summary
What happened
Observable timing discrepancy in Google Tink Java and Tink Android 1.21.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to forge valid MAC tags. ChunkedMacVerificationFromComputation.verifyMac compares the computed tag with tag.equals, whose non-constant-time behavior exposes the matching prefix length through response timing. Exploitation requires repeated, accurately timed verification attempts against an application exposing this operation; a recovered tag permits forged messages to pass integrity checks.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-15432
- Published
- Jul 21, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 21, 2026
- Vendor
- Go standard library
- Product
- Tink Java
- Classifications
- CWE-208, CAPEC-172
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 21, 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=All releases before 1.21.0, including 1.21.0.
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
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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