GitHub Advisoryadvisory · npm
GHSA-23cm-x6j7-6hq3 matrix-js-sdk can be tricked into disclosing E2EE room keys to a participating homeserver
MEDIUM
Official page ↗
- Aliases
- CVE-2021-40823
- Ecosystem
- npm
- Packages
- matrix-js-sdk
- Severity
- Moderate
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
- Weaknesses
- CWE-200, CWE-327
- Reviewed
- 2021-09-14
Affected packages
• npm matrix-js-sdk: < 12.4.1 → fixed in 12.4.1
Description
Impact
A logic error in the room key sharing functionality of matrix-js-sdk before 12.4.1 allows a malicious Matrix homeserver† participating in an encrypted room to steal room encryption keys from affected Matrix clients participating in that room. This allows the homeserver to decrypt end-to-end encrypted messages sent by affected clients.
† Or anyone with access to the account of the original recipient of an encrypted message.
Known clients affected (via their use of vulnerable versions of matrix-js-sdk):
• Element Web (1.8.2 and earlier)
• Element Desktop (1.8.2 and earlier)
• SchildiChat Web (1.7.32-sc1 and earlier)
• SchildiChat Desktop (1.7.32-sc1 and earlier)
• Cinny (1.2.0 and earlier)
Patch
This was fixed in https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk/commit/894c24880da0e1cc81818f51c0db80e3c9fb2be9.
Workarounds
To prevent a homeserver from being able to steal the room keys, vulnerable clients can be taken offline or signed out. If signing out, care should be taken to either set up Secure Backup or export E2E room keys in order to preserve access to past messages.
Related
Alias · CVE (1)
- CVE-2021-40823 A logic error in the room key sharing functionality of matrix-js-sdk (aka Matrix Javascript SDK) before 12.4.1 allows a malicious Matrix… vulnerability
References
- https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk/security/advisories/GHSA-23cm-x6j7-6hq3 web
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40823 advisory
- https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk/commit/894c24880da0e1cc81818f51c0db80e3c9fb2be9 web
- https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk package
- https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk/releases/tag/v12.4.1 web
- https://matrix.org/blog/2021/09/13/vulnerability-disclosure-key-sharing web