Description
Issue summary: SM2 signature generation uses non-constant-time arithmetic
on secret values, forming a timing side-channel.

Impact summary: An attacker able to measure SM2 signing times may learn
information about the per-signature secret nonce, which over many signatures
can, via a lattice / Hidden Number Problem attack, lead to recovery of the
private key.

CWE: CWE-208: Observable Timing Discrepancy

Description: SM2 signature generation computes the signature value using
variable-time BIGNUM operations on the secret nonce and the private key, so
the time taken to produce an SM2 signature depends on these secret values,
forming a timing side-channel.

Applications performing SM2 signature generation are affected on all
platforms.

FIPS Impact: no
SM2 is not a FIPS algorithm.
Published: 2026-09-29
Score: 3.7 Low
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

No analysis available yet.

Remediation

No remediation available yet.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 17:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Openssl
Openssl openssl
Vendors & Products Openssl
Openssl openssl

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N'}

ssvc

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


Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Issue summary: SM2 signature generation uses non-constant-time arithmetic on secret values, forming a timing side-channel. Impact summary: An attacker able to measure SM2 signing times may learn information about the per-signature secret nonce, which over many signatures can, via a lattice / Hidden Number Problem attack, lead to recovery of the private key. CWE: CWE-208: Observable Timing Discrepancy Description: SM2 signature generation computes the signature value using variable-time BIGNUM operations on the secret nonce and the private key, so the time taken to produce an SM2 signature depends on these secret values, forming a timing side-channel. Applications performing SM2 signature generation are affected on all platforms. FIPS Impact: no SM2 is not a FIPS algorithm.
Title Timing Side-Channel in SM2 Signature Generation
Weaknesses CWE-208
References

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: openssl

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-29T16:51:33.618Z

Reserved: 2026-08-21T07:47:36.032Z

Link: CVE-2026-77696

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-09-29T16:51:26.361Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-29T16:17:11.493

Modified: 2026-09-29T17:17:10.343

Link: CVE-2026-77696

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-29T17:30:17Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-208

    Observable Timing Discrepancy