CVE-2022-37660

hostapd: Public Key Exchange (PKEX) Reuse Vulnerability in hostapd

Published Feb 11, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 6.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In hostapd 2.10 and earlier, the PKEX code remains active even after a successful PKEX association. An attacker that successfully bootstrapped public keys with another entity using PKEX in the past, will be able to subvert a future bootstrapping by passively observing public keys, re-using the encrypting element Qi and subtracting it from the captured message M (X = M - Qi). This will result in the public ephemeral key X; the only element required to subvert the PKEX association.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4123-1 wpa security update
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2022-40274 In hostapd 2.10 and earlier, the PKEX code remains active even after a successful PKEX association. An attacker that successfully bootstrapped public keys with another entity using PKEX in the past, will be able to subvert a future bootstrapping by passively observing public keys, re-using the encrypting element Qi and subtracting it from the captured message M (X = M - Qi). This will result in the public ephemeral key X; the only element required to subvert the PKEX association.
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7317-1 wpa_supplicant and hostapd vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared W1.fi
W1.fi hostapd
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:w1.fi:hostapd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products W1.fi
W1.fi hostapd
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.0005}

epss

{'score': 0.00056}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-323
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

ssvc

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

cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title hostapd: Public Key Exchange (PKEX) Reuse Vulnerability in hostapd
Weaknesses CWE-294
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In hostapd 2.10 and earlier, the PKEX code remains active even after a successful PKEX association. An attacker that successfully bootstrapped public keys with another entity using PKEX in the past, will be able to subvert a future bootstrapping by passively observing public keys, re-using the encrypting element Qi and subtracting it from the captured message M (X = M - Qi). This will result in the public ephemeral key X; the only element required to subvert the PKEX association.
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
mitre
Published
Updated
Jul 14, 2026, 11:54 AM
Reserved
Aug 8, 2022, 12:00 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Feb 11, 2025, 11:15 PM
Modified
Jul 14, 2026, 12:16 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Feb 11, 2025, 12:00 AM