8.7

CVE-2024-48930: secp256k1-node vulnerable to private key extraction over ECDH

Deferred
AliasesGHSA-584q-6j8j-r5pm
Published 21-10-2024Last modified 21-10-2024

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2024-48930 is a high (CVSS 8.7) vulnerability in cryptocoinjs secp256k1-node. EPSS estimates a 0.41% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 34.9% of scored vulnerabilities.

Priority
Prioritisesevere

Severe, CVSS 8.7 (CVE.org); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources; EPSS 0% (FIRST, 03-11-2026)

Source freshness unavailable

How is this decided?
CVSS score
8.7/10
010
High · v4.0 (CVE.org)
EPSS score
0.41%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedNot listed by any tracked catalog.
RansomwareNot flaggedNo ransomware use recorded.
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded

Timeline

  1. 21-10-2024
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 21-10-2024
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

secp256k1-node is a Node.js binding for an Optimized C library for EC operations on curve secp256k1. In `elliptic`-based version, `loadUncompressedPublicKey` has a check that the public key is on the curve. Prior to versions 5.0.1, 4.0.4, and 3.8.1, however, `loadCompressedPublicKey` is missing that check. That allows the attacker to use public keys on low-cardinality curves to extract enough information to fully restore the private key from as little as 11 ECDH sessions, and very cheaply on compute power. Other operations on public keys are also affected, including e.g. `publicKeyVerify()` incorrectly returning `true` on those invalid keys, and e.g. `publicKeyTweakMul()` also returning predictable outcomes allowing to restore the tweak. Versions 5.0.1, 4.0.4, and 3.8.1 contain a fix for the issue.

CVSS metrics

3 scores · 3 sources · 1 version

EPSS trend

Probability

0.41%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

35%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

No change 0.00 pp

From 0.41% on 04-10-2026

04-10-202603-11-2026

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEV

Not in the CISA KEV catalog.

ENISA CNW

Not in the ENISA CNW catalog.

CIRCL

Not in the CIRCL catalog.

Public exploits

0 found

No public exploits indexed.

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Version check

Known conditions: network-reachable, no authentication, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.

Cryptocoinjs1 product
Npm1 product
  • secp256k1≥ 5.0.0, < 5.0.1 | ≥ 4.0.0, < 4.0.4 | < 3.8.1

2 vendors · 2 products

References

8 links