CVE-2020-8897: amazon aws_encryption_sdk Cryptographic Issues
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2020-8897 is a high (CVSS 8.1) Cryptographic Issues vulnerability in amazon aws_encryption_sdk. EPSS estimates a 0.40% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 32.6% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.
Timeline
- 16-11-2020PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 04-08-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
A weak robustness vulnerability exists in the AWS Encryption SDKs for Java, Python, C and Javalcript prior to versions 2.0.0. Due to the non-committing property of AES-GCM (and other AEAD ciphers such as AES-GCM-SIV or (X)ChaCha20Poly1305) used by the SDKs to encrypt messages, an attacker can craft a unique cyphertext which will decrypt to multiple different results, and becomes especially relevant in a multi-recipient setting. We recommend users update their SDK to 2.0.0 or later.
CVSS metrics
7 scores · 4 sources · 3 versions- OSV · MavenEcosystem advisory · calculated8.6HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CVE.orgCNA4.8MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:NDiffers
- OSV · PypiEcosystem advisory · calculated8.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
- OSV · MavenEcosystem advisory · calculated8.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
EPSS trend
Probability
0.40%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
33%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
0.00 pp
From 0.40% on 19-09-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
1 foundSecurity Research
Maturity: poc
Weaknesses
CWE · root cause- CWE-310Cryptographic IssuesWeaknesses in this category are related to the design and implementation of data confidentiality and integrity. Frequently these deal with the use of encoding techniques, encryption libraries, and hashing algorithms. The weaknesses in this category could lead to a degradation of the quality data if they are not addressed.
- CWE-327Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic AlgorithmThe product uses a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm or protocol.
Affected systems
Amazon2 products
- aws_encryption_sdk< 2.0.0
- aws sdk≥ stable, < 2.0.0
Com.amazonaws1 product
- aws-encryption-sdk-java< 2.0.0
PyPI1 product
- aws-encryption-sdk< 2.0.0
3 vendors · 4 products
References
5 links- github.com/google/security-research/security/advisories/GHSA-wqgp-vphw-hphfX Refsource CONFIRMWEBAdvisoryExploitMitigationThird Party Advisory
- aws.amazon.com/blogs/security/improved-client-side-encryption-explicit-keyids-and-key-commitment/X Refsource CONFIRMARTICLEVendor Advisory
