CVE-2026-54875

Non-Constant-Time SM2 Scalar Multiplication on ARM64 and RISC-V

Published Sep 29, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 3.7 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Issue summary: A non-constant-time optimized implementation of scalar
point multiplication is used for SM2 private key operations on ARM64 and
RISC-V platforms.

Impact summary: An attacker able to measure the time taken by, or to observe
the cache-line access pattern of SM2 signing or decryption on an affected
platform can learn information about the secret scalar.

CWE: CWE-208: Observable Timing Discrepancy

Description: On ARM64 and RISC-V processors, the SM2 curve uses an optimized
scalar multiplication implementation whose conditional branches and table
look ups are chosen according to the bits of the secret scalar. The execution
time and the cache-access pattern therefore depend on the long-term private
key (during SM2 decryption) or the per-signature nonce (during SM2 signature
generation), forming a timing and cache side-channel.

FIPS Impact: no
SM2 is not a FIPS algorithm and the optimized SM2 implementation is not part
of the FIPS module.

OpenSSL 4.0, 3.6, 3.5 and 3.4 are vulnerable to this issue on AArch64 and
RISC-V.

OpenSSL 3.0, 1.1.1 and 1.0.2 are not affected by this issue.

OpenSSL 4.0 users should upgrade to OpenSSL 4.0.3.
OpenSSL 3.6 users should upgrade to OpenSSL 3.6.5.
OpenSSL 3.5 users should upgrade to OpenSSL 3.5.9.
OpenSSL 3.4 users should upgrade to OpenSSL 3.4.8.

This issue was reported on 2 May 2026 by Abhinav Agarwal.
It was independently reported on 6 June 2026 by Feng Xue.
The fix was developed by Igor Ustinov.

-- cut (non-publishing metadata for internal use) --
Reported by: Abhinav Agarwal, Feng Xue
Fixed by: Igor Ustinov

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6531-1 openssl security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8847-1 OpenSSL vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N'}

ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Openssl
Openssl openssl
Vendors & Products Openssl
Openssl openssl
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Issue summary: A non-constant-time optimized implementation of scalar point multiplication is used for SM2 private key operations on ARM64 and RISC-V platforms. Impact summary: An attacker able to measure the time taken by, or to observe the cache-line access pattern of SM2 signing or decryption on an affected platform can learn information about the secret scalar. CWE: CWE-208: Observable Timing Discrepancy Description: On ARM64 and RISC-V processors, the SM2 curve uses an optimized scalar multiplication implementation whose conditional branches and table look ups are chosen according to the bits of the secret scalar. The execution time and the cache-access pattern therefore depend on the long-term private key (during SM2 decryption) or the per-signature nonce (during SM2 signature generation), forming a timing and cache side-channel. FIPS Impact: no SM2 is not a FIPS algorithm and the optimized SM2 implementation is not part of the FIPS module. OpenSSL 4.0, 3.6, 3.5 and 3.4 are vulnerable to this issue on AArch64 and RISC-V. OpenSSL 3.0, 1.1.1 and 1.0.2 are not affected by this issue. OpenSSL 4.0 users should upgrade to OpenSSL 4.0.3. OpenSSL 3.6 users should upgrade to OpenSSL 3.6.5. OpenSSL 3.5 users should upgrade to OpenSSL 3.5.9. OpenSSL 3.4 users should upgrade to OpenSSL 3.4.8. This issue was reported on 2 May 2026 by Abhinav Agarwal. It was independently reported on 6 June 2026 by Feng Xue. The fix was developed by Igor Ustinov. -- cut (non-publishing metadata for internal use) -- Reported by: Abhinav Agarwal, Feng Xue Fixed by: Igor Ustinov
Title Non-Constant-Time SM2 Scalar Multiplication on ARM64 and RISC-V
Weaknesses CWE-208
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
openssl
Published
Updated
Sep 29, 2026, 5:17 PM
Reserved
Jun 16, 2026, 10:18 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Sep 29, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Oct 8, 2026, 1:19 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 29, 2026, 3:32 PM