Plaintext disclosure via variable-time CBC unpadding
Published Mar 20, 2026 · Updated Mar 20, 2026
Timing side channel in phpseclib 0.1.1 through 1.0.26, 2.0.0 through 2.0.51, and 3.0.0 through 3.0.49 allows remote attackers to read plaintext. The AES-CBC _unpad method short-circuits a logical OR when validating the last-byte padding length, causing invalid lengths to return in observably different time. An unauthenticated remote attacker who can submit chosen ciphertexts and measure repeated responses can use the timing oracle to recover encrypted plaintext; integrity and availability are unaffected.
Summary
What happened
Timing side channel in phpseclib 0.1.1 through 1.0.26, 2.0.0 through 2.0.51, and 3.0.0 through 3.0.49 allows remote attackers to read plaintext. The AES-CBC _unpad method short-circuits a logical OR when validating the last-byte padding length, causing invalid lengths to return in observably different time. An unauthenticated remote attacker who can submit chosen ciphertexts and measure repeated responses can use the timing oracle to recover encrypted plaintext; integrity and availability are unaffected.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-32935
- Published
- Mar 20, 2026
- Updated
- Mar 20, 2026
- Vendor
- phpseclib
- Product
- phpseclib
- Classifications
- CWE-208
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 20, 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=< 1.0.27
- Affected versionversion=>= 2.0.0, < 2.0.52
- Affected versionversion=>= 3.0.0, < 3.0.50
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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