Vulnerability Description
Observable Timing Discrepancy vulnerability in potatosalad jose allows recovery of a long-term X25519 private key through a timing side channel in the pure-Erlang Curve25519 fallback. The pure-Erlang X25519 implementation performs scalar multiplication over the secret private key using a recursive Montgomery ladder (jose_jwa_x25519:curve25519/2) whose clauses branch on individual bits of the clamped private scalar, and whose per-step operations (jose_jwa_x25519:montgomery_add/3 and jose_jwa_x25519:montgomery_double/1) and field inversion are built from value-dependent Erlang bignum arithmetic (multiplication, remainder, and modular exponentiation). Although the ladder is operation-count balanced and fixed at 254 steps, the concrete integer values processed at each step, and therefore the running time, depend on the secret scalar. The execution time of the public entry points jose_jwa_x25519:scalarmult/2, jose_jwa_x25519:x25519/2, jose_jwa_x25519:x25519_base/1, and jose_jwa_x25519:sk_to_pk/1 is thus a function of the private key. This path is reachable from the public API, most notably when a service decrypts attacker-supplied ECDH-ES (JWE) messages with a long-term X25519 key (for example through JOSE.JWK.box_decrypt_ecdh_es/2, which reaches jose_jwa_curve25519:x25519_shared_secret/2 and the ladder). An attacker who can submit ciphertexts and measure decryption timing can, in principle, recover the private key bit by bit, defeating the resistance X25519 was designed to provide. Recovery of the key compromises the confidentiality and authenticity of all data protected by it. This issue affects jose: from 1.10.0 before 1.11.13.
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://cna.erlef.org/cves/CVE-2026-65630.html
- https://github.com/potatosalad/erlang-jose/commit/3670f873c274bba86fb7f5ee5727a7
- https://github.com/potatosalad/erlang-jose/commit/8e532095de114ef4bf88a9ec5d651f
- https://github.com/potatosalad/erlang-jose/security/advisories/GHSA-xvr2-gggj-h2
- https://osv.dev/vulnerability/EEF-CVE-2026-65630
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-65630?
CVE-2026-65630 is a documented vulnerability. Observable Timing Discrepancy vulnerability in potatosalad jose allows recovery of a long-term X25519 private key through a timing side channel in the pure-Erlang Curve25519 fallback. The pure-Erlang...
How severe is CVE-2026-65630?
CVSS scoring is not yet available for CVE-2026-65630. Check NVD for updates.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-65630?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Review vendor security bulletins for remediation guidance.