CVE-2021-40528

libgcrypt: ElGamal implementation allows plaintext recovery

Published Sep 6, 2021 CVSS 3.1 · 5.9 Medium EPSS 1.4% KEV · Not listed
Description
The ElGamal implementation in Libgcrypt before 1.9.4 allows plaintext recovery because, during interaction between two cryptographic libraries, a certain dangerous combination of the prime defined by the receiver's public key, the generator defined by the receiver's public key, and the sender's ephemeral exponents can lead to a cross-configuration attack against OpenPGP.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2021-27703 The ElGamal implementation in Libgcrypt before 1.9.4 allows plaintext recovery because, during interaction between two cryptographic libraries, a certain dangerous combination of the prime defined by the receiver's public key, the generator defined by the receiver's public key, and the sender's ephemeral exponents can lead to a cross-configuration attack against OpenPGP.
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-5080-1 Libgcrypt vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-5080-2 Libgcrypt vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
mitre
Published
Updated
Jun 9, 2025, 3:13 PM
Reserved
Sep 6, 2021, 12:00 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Sep 6, 2021, 7:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 4:07 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jul 20, 2021, 12:00 AM