CVE-2025-48946
liboqs affected by theoretical design flaw in HQC
Description
liboqs is a C-language cryptographic library that provides implementations of post-quantum cryptography algorithms. liboqs prior to version 0.13.0 supports the HQC algorithm, an algorithm with a theoretical design flaw which leads to large numbers of malformed ciphertexts sharing the same implicit rejection value. Currently, no concrete attack on the algorithm is known. However, prospective users of HQC must take extra care when using the algorithm in protocols involving key derivation. In particular, HQC does not provide the same security guarantees as Kyber or ML-KEM. There is currently no patch for the HQC flaw available in liboqs, so HQC is disabled by default in liboqs starting from version 0.13.0. OQS will update its implementation after the HQC team releases an updated algorithm specification.
INFO
Published Date :
May 30, 2025, 8:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
Aug. 25, 2025, 2:06 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | LOW | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update liboqs to version 0.13.0 or later.
- Disable the HQC algorithm if using an older version.
- Await updated HQC algorithm specification and liboqs implementation.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2025-48946.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-48946 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-48946
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2025-48946 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2025-48946 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Aug. 25, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:openquantumsafe:liboqs:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (excluding) 0.13.0 Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://durumcrustulum.com/2024/02/24/how-to-hold-kems/#hqc Types: Product Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/commit/a7d698ca9c9d98990647459253183cbe29c550af Types: Patch Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/security/advisories/GHSA-3rxw-4v8q-9gq5 Types: Vendor Advisory Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://groups.google.com/a/list.nist.gov/g/pqc-forum/c/Wiu4ZQo3fP80 Types: Issue Tracking, Mailing List -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
May. 30, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description liboqs is a C-language cryptographic library that provides implementations of post-quantum cryptography algorithms. liboqs prior to version 0.13.0 supports the HQC algorithm, an algorithm with a theoretical design flaw which leads to large numbers of malformed ciphertexts sharing the same implicit rejection value. Currently, no concrete attack on the algorithm is known. However, prospective users of HQC must take extra care when using the algorithm in protocols involving key derivation. In particular, HQC does not provide the same security guarantees as Kyber or ML-KEM. There is currently no patch for the HQC flaw available in liboqs, so HQC is disabled by default in liboqs starting from version 0.13.0. OQS will update its implementation after the HQC team releases an updated algorithm specification. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N Added CWE CWE-327 Added Reference https://durumcrustulum.com/2024/02/24/how-to-hold-kems/#hqc Added Reference https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/commit/a7d698ca9c9d98990647459253183cbe29c550af Added Reference https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/security/advisories/GHSA-3rxw-4v8q-9gq5 Added Reference https://groups.google.com/a/list.nist.gov/g/pqc-forum/c/Wiu4ZQo3fP80