CVE-2021-4239

Weak encryption and denial of service in github.com/flynn/noise

Published Dec 27, 2022 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

The Noise protocol implementation suffers from weakened cryptographic security after encrypting 2^64 messages, and a potential denial of service attack. After 2^64 (~18.4 quintillion) messages are encrypted with the Encrypt function, the nonce counter will wrap around, causing multiple messages to be encrypted with the same key and nonce. In a separate issue, the Decrypt function increments the nonce state even when it fails to decrypt a message. If an attacker can provide an invalid input to the Decrypt function, this will cause the nonce state to desynchronize between the peers, resulting in a failure to encrypt all subsequent messages.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

github.com/flynn/noise

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
`0`	affected	< 1.0.0

Configuration 1 [-]

cpe:2.3:a:noiseprotocol:noise:-:*:*:*:*:go:*:*

No data.

No data available yet.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Advisories

Source	ID	Title
EUVD	EUVD-2022-7529	The Noise protocol implementation suffers from weakened cryptographic security after encrypting 2^64 messages, and a potential denial of service attack. After 2^64 (~18.4 quintillion) messages are encrypted with the Encrypt function, the nonce counter will wrap around, causing multiple messages to be encrypted with the same key and nonce. In a separate issue, the Decrypt function increments the nonce state even when it fails to decrypt a message. If an attacker can provide an invalid input to the Decrypt function, this will cause the nonce state to desynchronize between the peers, resulting in a failure to encrypt all subsequent messages.
Github GHSA	GHSA-6cr6-fmvc-vw2p	Noise vulnerable to denial of service