Sign in
Deutsch English Español Polski
High

cryptography Vulnerable to a Subgroup Attack Due to Missing Subgroup Validation for SECT Curves

  • Disclosed: 10.02.2026
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 15:17

Vulnerability Summary

The public_key_from_numbers (or EllipticCurvePublicNumbers.public_key()), EllipticCurvePublicNumbers.public_key(), load_der_public_key() and load_pem_public_key() functions do not verify that the point belongs to the expected prime-order subgroup of the curve.

This missing validation allows an attacker to provide a public key point P from a small-order subgroup. This can lead to security issues in various situations, such as the most commonly used signature verification (ECDSA) and shared key negotiation (ECDH). When the victim computes the shared secret as S = [victim_private_key]P via ECDH, this leaks information about victim_private_key mod (small_subgroup_order). For curves with cofactor > 1, this reveals the least significant bits of the private key. When these weak public keys are used in ECDSA , it's easy to forge signatures on the small subgroup.

Only SECT curves are impacted by this.

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered by:

  • XlabAI Team of Tencent Xuanwu Lab
  • Atuin Automated Vulnerability Discovery Engine

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Python (PyPI) cryptography < 46.0.5 46.0.5

References

CVSS score -
CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-345
Platform
Python (PyPI)
Package
cryptography
Disclosed
10.02.2026
Updated
11.10.2026 15:17

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-2141 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-r6ph-v2qm-q3c2 - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: cryptography

All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

All (24) in the archive
Total entries
24
First → latest
03.2017 08.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • High 12
  • Medium 7
  • Low 5

Disclosures per year

Severity:
  1. python-cryptography: Duplicate self-signed intermediates can cause exponential path-building
    High CVE-2026-69249 >= 42.0.0, < 49.0.0 49.0.0
  2. cryptography: PKCS#7 EnvelopedData decryption exposes a Bleichenbacher oracle through distinguishable errors and timing
    High CVE-2026-69247 >= 44.0.0, < 50.0.0 50.0.0
  3. Vulnerable OpenSSL included in cryptography wheels
    High · 7.5 ghsa-537c-gmf6-5ccf >= 0.5.0, < 48.0.1 48.0.1
  4. cryptography Vulnerable to a Subgroup Attack Due to Missing Subgroup Validation for SECT Curves this entry
    High CVE-2026-26007 < 46.0.5 46.0.5
  5. cryptography NULL pointer dereference with pkcs12.serialize_key_and_certificates when called with a non-matching certificate and private key and an hmac_hash override
    High · 7.5 CVE-2024-26130 >= 38.0.0, < 42.0.4 42.0.4
  6. Python Cryptography package vulnerable to Bleichenbacher timing oracle attack
    High · 7.5 CVE-2023-50782 < 42.0.0 42.0.0
  7. cryptography mishandles SSH certificates
    High · 7.5 CVE-2023-38325 >= 40.0.0, < 41.0.2 41.0.2
  8. Vulnerable OpenSSL included in cryptography wheels
    High · 7.4 CVE-2023-0286 >= 0.8.1, < 39.0.1 39.0.1
  9. PyCA Cryptography symmetrically encrypting large values can lead to integer overflow
    High · 9.1 CVE-2020-36242 >= 3.1, < 3.3.2 3.3.2
  10. RSA decryption vulnerable to Bleichenbacher timing vulnerability
    High · 5.9 CVE-2020-25659 < 3.2 3.2
  11. PyCA Cryptography vulnerable to GCM tag forgery
    High · 7.5 CVE-2018-10903 >= 1.9.0, < 2.3 2.3
  12. Improper input validation in cryptography
    High · 7.5 CVE-2016-9243 < 1.5.3 1.5.3

Know which vulnerabilities affect your application

With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.

Connect your application
DockRay newsletter

Application security in your inbox

Important vulnerabilities, actionable guidance and practical advice for your applications. Choose your technologies and follow what matters to your project.

  • A daily digest of new vulnerabilities, critical ones included.
  • Notifications about important updates.
  • Practical advice on application security and monitoring.

Leave empty to receive updates for every technology.

Privacy policy

Free to subscribe. Unsubscribe with one click in any email.