CVE-2023-33202: Bouncy Castle Denial of Service Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wjxj-5m7g-mg7q
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CVSS 5.5
CWE-400
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-33202 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.5) denial of service vulnerability (CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) affecting Bouncy Castle libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves bouncy castle denial of service (dos). Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.73.

CVE-2023-33202 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-33202
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wjxj-5m7g-mg7q
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.5
CWE Classification CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
Affected Product Bouncy Castle
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

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

How to Fix CVE-2023-33202

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

org.bouncycastle:bcprov-ext-jdk16 fixed: 1.73 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.bouncycastle</groupId>
    <artifactId>bcprov-ext-jdk16</artifactId>
    <version>1.73</version>
</dependency>
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk14 fixed: 1.73 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.bouncycastle</groupId>
    <artifactId>bcprov-jdk14</artifactId>
    <version>1.73</version>
</dependency>
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15 fixed: 1.73 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.bouncycastle</groupId>
    <artifactId>bcprov-jdk15</artifactId>
    <version>1.73</version>
</dependency>
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15to18 fixed: 1.73 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.bouncycastle</groupId>
    <artifactId>bcprov-jdk15to18</artifactId>
    <version>1.73</version>
</dependency>
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk16 fixed: 1.73 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.bouncycastle</groupId>
    <artifactId>bcprov-jdk16</artifactId>
    <version>1.73</version>
</dependency>
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15on fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.bouncycastle</groupId>
    <artifactId>bcprov-jdk15on</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk18on fixed: 1.73 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.bouncycastle</groupId>
    <artifactId>bcpkix-jdk18on</artifactId>
    <version>1.73</version>
</dependency>
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-ext-jdk15on fixed: 1.73 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.bouncycastle</groupId>
    <artifactId>bcprov-ext-jdk15on</artifactId>
    <version>1.73</version>
</dependency>
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk18on fixed: 1.73 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.bouncycastle</groupId>
    <artifactId>bcprov-jdk18on</artifactId>
    <version>1.73</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.bouncycastle

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-33202, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.bouncycastle

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Bouncy Castle in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.73), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.bouncycastle command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, where the product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource. In Bouncy Castle, 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

Bouncy Castle for Java before 1.73 contains a potential Denial of Service (DoS) issue within the Bouncy Castle org.bouncycastle.openssl.PEMParser class. This class parses OpenSSL PEM encoded streams containing X.509 certificates, PKCS8 encoded keys, and PKCS7 objects. Parsing a file that has crafted ASN.1 data through the PEMParser causes an OutOfMemoryError, which can enable a denial of service attack.

CVE-2023-33202 Affected Bouncy Castle Versions

9 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.73
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-ext-jdk16
maven/org.bouncycastle/bcprov-ext-jdk16
Maven
< 1.73
1.73
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk14
maven/org.bouncycastle/bcprov-jdk14
Maven
< 1.73
1.73
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15
maven/org.bouncycastle/bcprov-jdk15
Maven
< 1.73
1.73
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15to18
maven/org.bouncycastle/bcprov-jdk15to18
Maven
< 1.73
1.73
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk16
maven/org.bouncycastle/bcprov-jdk16
Maven
< 1.73
1.73
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15on
maven/org.bouncycastle/bcprov-jdk15on
Maven
org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk18on
maven/org.bouncycastle/bcpkix-jdk18on
Maven
< 1.73
1.73
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-ext-jdk15on
maven/org.bouncycastle/bcprov-ext-jdk15on
Maven
< 1.73
1.73
org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk18on
maven/org.bouncycastle/bcprov-jdk18on
Maven
< 1.73
1.73

References

NVD — CVE-2023-33202 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-33202
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/bcgit/bc-java/commit/0c576892862ed41894f49a8f639112e8d66d229c
Bouncy Castle Security Information SECURITY
https://bouncycastle.org
Bouncy Castle Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/bcgit/bc-java
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/bcgit/bc-java/wiki/CVE-2023-33202
Bouncy Castle Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240125-0001

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-33202?
CVE-2023-33202 is a security vulnerability in Bouncy Castle involving Bouncy Castle Denial of Service (DoS) under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption.
Which Bouncy Castle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.73 across affected packages: org.bouncycastle:bcprov-ext-jdk16, org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk14, org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15, org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15to18, org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk16, org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15on, org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk18on, org.bouncycastle:bcprov-ext-jdk15on, org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk18on.
What version fixes CVE-2023-33202?
Upgrading to 1.73 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is bcprov-ext-jdk16 affected?
Yes, org.bouncycastle:bcprov-ext-jdk16 is affected in releases prior to 1.73. Upgrade your dependency to 1.73 or later.
Is bcprov-jdk14 affected?
Yes, org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk14 is affected in releases prior to 1.73. Upgrade your dependency to 1.73 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-33202?
CVE-2023-33202 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-33202?
CVE-2023-33202 is classified under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption (The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-33202?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.bouncycastle'. 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-wjxj-5m7g-mg7q",
  "modified" : "2024-09-09T17:38:48Z",
  "published" : "2023-11-23T18:30:33Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-33202" ],
  "summary" : "Bouncy Castle Denial of Service (DoS)",
  "details" : "Bouncy Castle for Java before 1.73 contains a potential Denial of Service (DoS) issue within the Bouncy Castle org.bouncycastle.openssl.PEMParser class. This class parses OpenSSL PEM encoded streams containing X.509 certificates, PKCS8 encoded keys, and PKCS7 objects. Parsing a file that has crafted ASN.1 data through the PEMParser causes an OutOfMemoryError, which can enable a denial of service attack.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.bouncycastle:bcprov-ext-jdk16"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.73"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk14"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.73"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.73"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15to18"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.73"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk16"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.73"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15on"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "< 1.70"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk18on"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.73"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.bouncycastle:bcprov-ext-jdk15on"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.73"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk18on"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.73"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-33202"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/bcgit/bc-java/commit/0c576892862ed41894f49a8f639112e8d66d229c"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bouncycastle.org"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/bcgit/bc-java"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/bcgit/bc-java/wiki/CVE-2023-33202"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240125-0001"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-400" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-11-24T16:54:01Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-11-23T16:15:07Z"
  }
}