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CVE Record

CVE-2021-4239: Weak encryption and denial of service in github.com/flynn/noise

The Noise protocol implementation suffers from weakened cryptographic security after encrypting 2^64 messages, and a potential denial of service attack. After 2^64 (~18.4 quintillion) messages are encrypted with the Encrypt function, the nonce counter will wrap around, causing multiple messages to be encrypted with the same key and nonce. In a separate issue, the Decrypt function increments the nonce state even when it fails to decrypt a message. If an attacker can provide an invalid input to the Decrypt function, this will cause the nonce state to desynchronize between the peers, resulting in a failure to encrypt all subsequent messages.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This flaw affects the Go package github.com/flynn/noise. In extreme message volumes it can reuse cryptographic nonces, weakening message security. Separately, malformed input can desynchronize peers and break future communication. The practical business concern is service disruption for systems using this library in network-facing encrypted protocols.

Executive priority

Prioritize systems where this library protects network-facing services or critical service-to-service channels. Treat as high priority for availability risk, with cryptographic risk mainly relevant to extremely long-lived or high-volume sessions.

Technical view

The Encrypt path allows nonce counter wrap after 2^64 encrypted messages, causing key and nonce reuse. The Decrypt path increments nonce state even when decryption fails, so attacker-supplied invalid ciphertext can desynchronize peer state and prevent subsequent successful communication.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to software that imports github.com/flynn/noise and uses it for Noise protocol sessions, especially network services receiving untrusted peer input. The bundle does not identify downstream products or deployments.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false. The denial-of-service condition appears network-reachable when an attacker can submit invalid input to Decrypt. The nonce-wrap issue requires an unusually large number of encrypted messages in one state.

Researcher notes

Evidence is strongest for the root causes described in GO-2022-0425 and the upstream PR reference. The bundle does not provide a confirmed fixed version, exploit reports, or affected downstream products, so remediation should be validated against current vendor guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory Go services importing github.com/flynn/noise.
  • Check GO-2022-0425 and upstream PR #44 for vendor-approved fixes.
  • Upgrade or vendor a confirmed patched version when available.
  • Reduce exposure of untrusted Noise traffic until remediation is confirmed.
  • Avoid long-lived sessions approaching extreme message counts.

Validation and detection

  • Search dependency manifests for github.com/flynn/noise.
  • Confirm deployed builds include the vulnerable package version.
  • Review protocol entry points that call Decrypt on remote input.
  • Test malformed input handling in a controlled environment.
  • Verify patched builds preserve peer nonce synchronization after failed decrypts.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2021-4239 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N3.93.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-4239Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
github.com/flynn/noisegithub.com/flynn/noisegithub.com/flynn/noise, 0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.