CVE-2019-9154: Openpgp Improper Key Verification Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-hfmf-q43v-2ffj
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-347
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2019-9154 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) improper key verification vulnerability (CWE-347: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature) affecting Openpgp libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves improper key verification in openpgp. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.2.0.

CVE-2019-9154 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2019-9154
GHSA Identifier GHSA-hfmf-q43v-2ffj
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-347: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
Affected Product Openpgp
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2019-9154

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Openpgp dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

openpgp fixed: 4.2.0 
npm install openpgp@4.2.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls openpgp

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2019-9154, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls openpgp

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Openpgp in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.2.0), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls openpgp command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-347: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature, where the product does not verify, or incorrectly verifies, the cryptographic signature for data. In Openpgp, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Versions of `openpgp` prior to 4.2.0 are vulnerable to Improper Key Verification. The OpenPGP standard allows signature packets to have subpackets which may be hashed or unhashed. Unhashed subpackets are not cryptographically protected and cannot be trusted. The `openpgp` package does not verify whether a subpacket is hashed. Furthermore, due to the order of parsing a signature packet information from unhashed subpackets overwrites information from hashed subpackets. This may allow an attacker to modify the contents of a key certification signature or revocation signature. Doing so could convince a victim to use an obsolete key for encryption. An attack require a victim to import a manipulated key or update an existing key with a manipulated version. ## Recommendation Upgrade to version 4.2.0 or later. If you are upgrading from a version <4.0.0 it is highly recommended to read the `High-Level API Changes` section of the `openpgp` 4.0.0 release: https://github.com/openpgpjs/openpgpjs/releases/tag/v4.0.0

CVE-2019-9154 Affected Openpgp Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.2.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openpgp
npm/openpgp
npm
< 4.2.0
4.2.0

References

NVD — CVE-2019-9154 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-9154
Openpgp Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openpgpjs/openpgpjs/pull/797
Openpgp Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openpgpjs/openpgpjs/pull/797/commits/47138eed61473e13ee8f05931119d3e10542c5e1
Openpgp Release RELEASE
https://github.com/openpgpjs/openpgpjs/releases/tag/v4.2.0
sec-consult.com/en/blog/advisories/... WEB
https://sec-consult.com/en/blog/advisories/multiple-vulnerabilities-in-openpgp-js
snyk.io/vuln/snyk-js-openpg... WEB
https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-OPENPGP-460247
www.bsi.bund.de/shareddocs/download... WEB
https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/EN/BSI/Publications/Studies/Mailvelope_Extensions/Mailvelope_Extensions_pdf.html#download=1
www.npmjs.com/advisories/1161 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1161
Openpgp Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154191/OpenPGP.js-4.2.0-Signature-Bypass-Invalid-Curve-Attack.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-9154?
CVE-2019-9154 is a security vulnerability in Openpgp involving Improper Key Verification in openpgp under CWE-347: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature.
Which Openpgp versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.2.0 across affected packages: openpgp.
What version fixes CVE-2019-9154?
Upgrading to 4.2.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openpgp affected?
Yes, openpgp is affected in releases prior to 4.2.0. Upgrade your dependency to 4.2.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-9154?
CVE-2019-9154 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-9154?
CVE-2019-9154 is classified under CWE-347: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature (The product does not verify, or incorrectly verifies, the cryptographic signature for data.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2019-9154?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls openpgp'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-hfmf-q43v-2ffj",
  "modified" : "2021-08-17T22:08:26Z",
  "published" : "2019-08-23T21:42:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2019-9154" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Key Verification in openpgp",
  "details" : "Versions of `openpgp` prior to 4.2.0 are vulnerable to Improper Key Verification. The OpenPGP standard allows signature packets to have subpackets which may be hashed or unhashed. Unhashed subpackets are not cryptographically protected and cannot be trusted. The `openpgp` package does not verify whether a subpacket is hashed. Furthermore, due to the order of parsing a signature packet information from unhashed subpackets overwrites information from hashed subpackets. This may allow an attacker to modify the contents of a key certification signature or revocation signature. Doing so could convince a victim to use an obsolete key for encryption. An attack require a victim to import a manipulated key or update an existing key with a manipulated version.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nUpgrade to version 4.2.0 or later. \nIf you are upgrading from a version <4.0.0 it is highly recommended to read the `High-Level API Changes` section of the `openpgp` 4.0.0 release: https://github.com/openpgpjs/openpgpjs/releases/tag/v4.0.0",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openpgp"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.2.0"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 4.1.2"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-9154"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openpgpjs/openpgpjs/pull/797"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openpgpjs/openpgpjs/pull/797/commits/47138eed61473e13ee8f05931119d3e10542c5e1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openpgpjs/openpgpjs/releases/tag/v4.2.0"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://sec-consult.com/en/blog/advisories/multiple-vulnerabilities-in-openpgp-js"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-OPENPGP-460247"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/EN/BSI/Publications/Studies/Mailvelope_Extensions/Mailvelope_Extensions_pdf.html#download=1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1161"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154191/OpenPGP.js-4.2.0-Signature-Bypass-Invalid-Curve-Attack.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-347" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2019-08-23T21:41:08Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}