CVE-2018-5389
CVE-2018-5389
CVE-2018-5389 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.9) in Ietf Internet Key Exchange, published September 6, 2018. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 3.09%, the 87th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
The Internet Key Exchange v1 main mode is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. Reusing a key pair across different versions and modes of IKE could lead to cross-protocol authentication bypasses. It is well known, that the aggressive mode of IKEv1 PSK is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. For the main mode, however, only an online attack against PSK authentication was thought to be feasible. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to recover a weak Pre-Shared Key or enable the impersonation of a victim host or network.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
5.9
The Internet Key Exchange v1 main mode is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. Reusing a key pair across different versions and modes of IKE could lead to cross-protocol authentication bypasses. It is well known, that the aggressive mode of IKEv1 PSK is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. For the main mode, however, only an online attack against PSK authentication was thought to be feasible. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to recover a weak Pre-Shared Key or enable the impersonation of a victim host or network.
- Record
CVE-2018-5389- CVSS 3.0
- 5.9 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 4.3 Medium
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-521
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
CVE-2018-5389
The Internet Key Exchange v1 main mode is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. Reusing a key pair across different versions and modes of IKE could lead to cross-protocol authentication bypasses. It is well known, that the aggressive mode of IKEv1 PSK is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. For the main mode, however, only an online attack against PSK authentication was thought to be feasible. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to recover a weak Pre-Shared Key or enable the impersonation of a victim host or network.
- Record
CVE-2018-5389- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2018-17159 No score
The Internet Key Exchange v1 main mode is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. Reusing a key pair across different versions and modes of IKE could lead to cross-protocol authentication bypasses. It is well known, that the aggressive mode of IKEv1 PSK is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. For the main mode, however, only an online attack against PSK authentication was thought to be feasible. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to recover a weak Pre-Shared Key or enable the impersonation of a victim host or network.
- Record
EUVD-2018-17159- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-999m-cq5c-hqgx
5.9
The Internet Key Exchange v1 main mode is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks...
The Internet Key Exchange v1 main mode is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. Reusing a key pair across different versions and modes of IKE could lead to cross-protocol authentication bypasses. It is well known, that the aggressive mode of IKEv1 PSK is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. For the main mode, however, only an online attack against PSK authentication was thought to be feasible. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to recover a weak Pre-Shared Key or enable the impersonation of a victim host or network.
- Record
GHSA-999m-cq5c-hqgx- CVSS 3.0
- 5.9 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-521
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
5.9
The Internet Key Exchange v1 main mode is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. Reusing a key pair across different versions and modes of IKE could lead to cross-protocol authentication bypasses. It is well known, that the aggressive mode of IKEv1 PSK is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. For the main mode, however, only an online attack against PSK authentication was thought to be feasible. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to recover a weak Pre-Shared Key or enable the impersonation of a victim host or network.
- Record
CVE-2018-5389- CVSS 3.0
- 5.9 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2018-5389
5.9
The Internet Key Exchange v1 main mode is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. Reusing a key pair across different versions and modes of IKE could lead to cross-protocol authentication bypasses. It is well known, that the aggressive mode of IKEv1 PSK is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. For the main mode, however, only an online attack against PSK authentication was thought to be feasible. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to recover a weak Pre-Shared Key or enable the impersonation of a victim host or network.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2018-5389- CVSS 3.0
- 5.9 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2018-5389
5.9
The Internet Key Exchange v1 main mode is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. Reusing a key pair across different versions and modes of IKE could lead to cross-protocol authentication bypasses. It is well known, that the aggressive mode of IKEv1 PSK is vulnerable to offline dictionary or brute force attacks. For the main mode, however, only an online attack against PSK authentication was thought to be feasible. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to recover a weak Pre-Shared Key or enable the impersonation of a victim host or network.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2018-5389- CVSS 3.0
- 5.9 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
libreswanDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.10-24.10-2+deb12u14.11-14.12-14.12-2 Show 13 moreShow less4.12-34.14-14.14-1.14.15-15.0~rc2-15.0~rc2-25.2-15.2-25.2-2.15.2-2.25.2-2.35.2-2.45.2-2.5 |
None known |
libreswanDebian:13 |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.2-2.25.2-2.35.2-2.45.2-2.5 |
None known |
libreswanDebian:14 |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.2-2.25.2-2.35.2-2.45.2-2.5 |
None known |
strongswanDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.9.11-15.9.11-25.9.12-15.9.13-15.9.13-2 Show 22 moreShow less5.9.8-55.9.8-5+deb12u15.9.8-5+deb12u25.9.8-5+deb12u35.9.8-5+deb12u45.9.8-5+deb12u56.0.0-16.0.0-26.0.1-16.0.1-26.0.1-36.0.1-46.0.1-56.0.1-66.0.2-16.0.3-16.0.4-16.0.5-16.0.6-16.0.7-16.1.0-16.1.0-2 |
None known |
strongswanDebian:13 |
All versions, plus listed versions 6.0.1-66.0.1-6+deb13u16.0.1-6+deb13u26.0.1-6+deb13u46.0.1-6+deb13u5 Show 10 moreShow less6.0.1-6+deb13u66.0.1-6+deb13u76.0.2-16.0.3-16.0.4-16.0.5-16.0.6-16.0.7-16.1.0-16.1.0-2 |
None known |
strongswanDebian:14 |
All versions, plus listed versions 6.0.1-66.0.2-16.0.3-16.0.4-16.0.5-1 Show 4 moreShow less6.0.6-16.0.7-16.1.0-16.1.0-2 |
None known |
strongswanUbuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.6.4-95.1.0-25.1.0-35.1.1-0ubuntu15.1.1-0ubuntu2 Show 25 moreShow less5.1.1-0ubuntu35.1.1-0ubuntu45.1.1-0ubuntu55.1.1-0ubuntu75.1.1-0ubuntu145.1.1-0ubuntu175.1.2~dr3+git20130120-0ubuntu25.1.2~dr3+git20130120-0ubuntu35.1.2~rc1-0ubuntu35.1.2~rc1-0ubuntu45.1.2~rc2-0ubuntu25.1.2-0ubuntu15.1.2-0ubuntu25.1.2-0ubuntu2.25.1.2-0ubuntu2.35.1.2-0ubuntu2.45.1.2-0ubuntu2.55.1.2-0ubuntu2.65.1.2-0ubuntu2.75.1.2-0ubuntu2.85.1.2-0ubuntu2.105.1.2-0ubuntu2.115.1.2-0ubuntu2.11+esm15.1.2-0ubuntu2.11+esm25.1.2-0ubuntu2.11+esm3 |
None known |
strongswanUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.1.2-0ubuntu65.1.2-0ubuntu75.1.2-0ubuntu85.3.5-1ubuntu15.3.5-1ubuntu2 Show 12 moreShow less5.3.5-1ubuntu35.3.5-1ubuntu3.15.3.5-1ubuntu3.25.3.5-1ubuntu3.35.3.5-1ubuntu3.45.3.5-1ubuntu3.55.3.5-1ubuntu3.75.3.5-1ubuntu3.85.3.5-1ubuntu3.8+esm15.3.5-1ubuntu3.8+esm25.3.5-1ubuntu3.8+esm35.3.5-1ubuntu3.8+esm4 |
None known |
ipsec-toolsUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:0.8.2+20140711-41:0.8.2+20140711-5 |
None known |
isakmpdUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 20041012-7.2ubuntu120041012-7.2ubuntu2 |
None known |
Show 16 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
strongswanUbuntu:Pro:FIPS-updates:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.3.5-1ubuntu3.fips.3.4.15.3.5-1ubuntu3.fips.3.4.25.3.5-1ubuntu3.fips.3.8.15.3.5-1ubuntu3.fips.3.8.25.3.5-1ubuntu3.fips.3.8.35.3.5-1ubuntu3.fips.3.8.65.3.5-1ubuntu3.fips.3.8.7 |
None known |
strongswanUbuntu:Pro:FIPS:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.3.5-1ubuntu3.fips.3.15.3.5-1ubuntu3.fips.3.25.3.5-1ubuntu3.fips.3.3 |
None known |
strongswanUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.5.1-4ubuntu25.5.1-4ubuntu35.6.1-2ubuntu15.6.1-2ubuntu25.6.1-2ubuntu3 Show 11 moreShow less5.6.1-2ubuntu45.6.2-1ubuntu25.6.2-1ubuntu2.25.6.2-1ubuntu2.35.6.2-1ubuntu2.45.6.2-1ubuntu2.55.6.2-1ubuntu2.65.6.2-1ubuntu2.75.6.2-1ubuntu2.85.6.2-1ubuntu2.95.6.2-1ubuntu2.9+esm1 |
None known |
ipsec-toolsUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:0.8.2+20140711-101:0.8.2+20140711-10build1 |
None known |
isakmpdUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 20041012-7.3ubuntu120041012-8 |
None known |
libreswanUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.20-7build13.21-23.22-13.22-23.22-33.22-43.23-13.23-4 |
None known |
strongswanUbuntu:Pro:FIPS-updates:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.6.2-1ubuntu2.fips.2.5.15.6.2-1ubuntu2.fips.2.7.15.6.2-1ubuntu2.fips.2.7.25.6.2-1ubuntu2.fips.2.8.15.6.2-1ubuntu2.fips.2.95.6.2-1ubuntu2.fips.2.9+esm1 |
None known |
strongswanUbuntu:Pro:FIPS:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.6.2-1ubuntu2.fips.2.4.25.6.2-1ubuntu2.fips.2.5.1 |
None known |
strongswanUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.7.2-1ubuntu35.8.1-1ubuntu15.8.2-1ubuntu15.8.2-1ubuntu25.8.2-1ubuntu3 Show 6 moreShow less5.8.2-1ubuntu3.15.8.2-1ubuntu3.25.8.2-1ubuntu3.35.8.2-1ubuntu3.45.8.2-1ubuntu3.55.8.2-1ubuntu3.6 |
None known |
isakmpdUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 20041012-8 |
None known |
libreswanUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.29-23.29-2build1 |
None known |
strongswanUbuntu:Pro:FIPS-updates:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.8.2-1ubuntu3.fips.3.1.25.8.2-1ubuntu3.fips.3.3.15.8.2-1ubuntu3.fips.3.4.15.8.2-1ubuntu3.fips.3.55.8.2-1ubuntu3.fips.3.6 |
None known |
strongswanUbuntu:Pro:FIPS:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.8.2-1ubuntu3.fips.3.1.2 |
None known |
isakmpdUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 20041012-1020041012-10build1 |
None known |
libreswanUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.32-3ubuntu3 |
None known |
strongswanUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.9.1-1ubuntu35.9.1-1ubuntu3.15.9.4-1ubuntu15.9.4-1ubuntu25.9.4-1ubuntu3 Show 11 moreShow less5.9.4-1ubuntu45.9.5-2ubuntu15.9.5-2ubuntu25.9.5-2ubuntu2.15.9.5-2ubuntu2.25.9.5-2ubuntu2.35.9.5-2ubuntu2.45.9.5-2ubuntu2.55.9.5-2ubuntu2.65.9.5-2ubuntu2.75.9.5-2ubuntu2.8 |
None known |
History
| When | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | aliases | EUVD |
| 2026-11-02 | created | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
References
usenix.org/system/files/conference/usenixsecurity18/sec18-felsch.pdf
kb.cert.org/vuls/id/857035
web-in-security.blogspot.com/2018/08/practical-dictionary-attack-on-ipsec-ike.html
blogs.cisco.com/security/great-cipher-but-where-did-you-get-that-key
my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K42378447
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-5389
Show 6 moreShow less
github.com/advisories/GHSA-999m-cq5c-hqgx
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2018-5389
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-5389
usenix.org/conference/usenixsecurity18/presentation/felsch
usenix.org/sites/default/files/conference/protected-files/security18_slides_felsch.pdf
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-5389