CVE-2026-46344
liboqs: Heap-buffer-overflow in XMSS verification path via OID-controlled parameter mismatch (xmss_commons.c:194)
Description
liboqs is a C-language cryptographic library that provides implementations of post-quantum cryptography algorithms. Prior to 0.16.0, an out-of-bounds read has been identified in the XMSS and XMSS^MT stateful signature verification code. When the verification function is called with a correctly-sized signature buffer for the declared algorithm but a public key whose OID bytes (pk[0..3]) reference a different XMSS parameter set with a larger sig_bytes, the implementation re-parses the OID from the public key inside xmss_sign_open / xmssmt_sign_open and uses the resulting (larger) sig_bytes to index the caller-supplied signature buffer. As with CVE-2026-44518, the out-of-bounds bytes are consumed only as input to an internal hash computation and are not returned to the caller, so no oracle exists to leak their contents to an attacker. The primary observable effect is a possible crash (denial of service) of the verifying process if the read crosses into an unmapped memory page. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.16.0.
INFO
Published Date :
May 29, 2026, 7:16 p.m.
Last Modified :
July 22, 2026, 6:10 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 | |||||
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update liboqs to version 0.16.0 or later.
- Verify cryptographic operations using updated library.
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-2026-46344.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-46344 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-2026-46344
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-2026-46344 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-46344 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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CVE Translated by [email protected]
Jul. 22, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Translation Title: liboqs de open-quantum-safe, Description: liboqs es una biblioteca criptográfica en lenguaje C que proporciona implementaciones de algoritmos de criptografía postcuántica. Antes de la versión 0.16.0, se ha identificado una lectura fuera de límites en el código de verificación de firma con estado de XMSS y XMSS^MT. Cuando se llama a la función de verificación con un búfer de firma de tamaño correcto para el algoritmo declarado pero una clave pública cuyos bytes OID (pk[0..3]) hacen referencia a un conjunto de parámetros XMSS diferente con un sig_bytes mayor, la implementación vuelve a analizar el OID de la clave pública dentro de xmss_sign_open / xmssmt_sign_open y utiliza el sig_bytes resultante (mayor) para indexar el búfer de firma proporcionado por el llamador. Al igual que con CVE-2026-44518, los bytes fuera de límites se consumen solo como entrada para un cálculo de hash interno y no se devuelven al llamador, por lo que no existe un oráculo para filtrar su contenido a un atacante. El efecto observable principal es un posible fallo (denegación de servicio) del proceso de verificación si la lectura cruza a una página de memoria no mapeada. Esta vulnerabilidad se corrige en la versión 0.16.0. -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jun. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'vendor': 'open-quantum-safe', 'product': 'liboqs', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '< 0.16.0'}]}] -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Jun. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-46344', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'none'}, {'automatable': 'yes'}, {'technicalImpact': 'partial'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-05-29T18:39:44.149887Z'} -
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Jun. 04, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:openquantumsafe:liboqs:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (including) 0.15.0 Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/commit/077e32a94f39af02209dbbc680bf8a43b774b305 Types: Patch Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/security/advisories/GHSA-2wxh-55qf-c7wg Types: Patch, Vendor Advisory -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
May. 29, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description liboqs is a C-language cryptographic library that provides implementations of post-quantum cryptography algorithms. Prior to 0.16.0, an out-of-bounds read has been identified in the XMSS and XMSS^MT stateful signature verification code. When the verification function is called with a correctly-sized signature buffer for the declared algorithm but a public key whose OID bytes (pk[0..3]) reference a different XMSS parameter set with a larger sig_bytes, the implementation re-parses the OID from the public key inside xmss_sign_open / xmssmt_sign_open and uses the resulting (larger) sig_bytes to index the caller-supplied signature buffer. As with CVE-2026-44518, the out-of-bounds bytes are consumed only as input to an internal hash computation and are not returned to the caller, so no oracle exists to leak their contents to an attacker. The primary observable effect is a possible crash (denial of service) of the verifying process if the read crosses into an unmapped memory page. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.16.0. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L Added CWE CWE-125 Added Reference https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/commit/077e32a94f39af02209dbbc680bf8a43b774b305 Added Reference https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/security/advisories/GHSA-2wxh-55qf-c7wg