CVE-2025-52473

liboqs secret-dependent branching in HQC reference implementation when compiled with Clang 17-20

Published Jul 10, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 5.9 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
liboqs is a C-language cryptographic library that provides implementations of post-quantum cryptography algorithms. Multiple secret-dependent branches have been identified in the reference implementation of the HQC key encapsulation mechanism when it is compiled with Clang for optimization levels above -O0 (-O1, -O2, etc). A proof-of-concept local attack exploits this secret-dependent information to recover the entire secret key. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.14.0.

Analysis

No analysis available yet

Remediation

No remediation available yet

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-21027 liboqs is a C-language cryptographic library that provides implementations of post-quantum cryptography algorithms. Multiple secret-dependent branches have been identified in the reference implementation of the HQC key encapsulation mechanism when it is compiled with Clang for optimization levels above -O0 (-O1, -O2, etc). A proof-of-concept local attack exploits this secret-dependent information to recover the entire secret key. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.14.0.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Openquantumsafe
Openquantumsafe liboqs
Weaknesses NVD-CWE-noinfo
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:openquantumsafe:liboqs:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Openquantumsafe
Openquantumsafe liboqs
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00031}

epss

{'score': 0.00041}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00031}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description liboqs is a C-language cryptographic library that provides implementations of post-quantum cryptography algorithms. Multiple secret-dependent branches have been identified in the reference implementation of the HQC key encapsulation mechanism when it is compiled with Clang for optimization levels above -O0 (-O1, -O2, etc). A proof-of-concept local attack exploits this secret-dependent information to recover the entire secret key. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.14.0.
Title liboqs secret-dependent branching in HQC reference implementation when compiled with Clang 17-20
Weaknesses CWE-200
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Jul 10, 2025, 7:16 PM
Reserved
Jun 17, 2025, 2:28 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jul 10, 2025, 7:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 9:36 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jul 10, 2025, 6:42 PM