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CVE-2021-22212

ntpkeygen can generate keys that ntpd fails to parse. NTPsec 1.2.0 allows ntpkeygen to generate...

4.0 MediumFix available

ntpkeygen can generate keys that ntpd fails to parse. NTPsec 1.2.0 allows ntpkeygen to generate keys with '#' characters. ntpd then either pads, shortens the key, or fails to load these keys entirely, depending on the key type and the placement of the '#'. This results in the administrator not being able to use the keys as expected or the keys are shorter than expected and easier to brute-force, possibly resulting in MITM attacks between ntp clients and ntp servers. For short AES128 keys, ntpd generates a warning that it is padding them.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
High
User interaction
Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
High
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

0.52%Down 0.3 points since Jun 9, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 4.0

ntpkeygen can generate keys that ntpd fails to parse. NTPsec 1.2.0 allows ntpkeygen to generate keys with '#' characters. ntpd then either pads, shortens the key, or fails to load these keys entirely, depending on the key type and the placement of the '#'. This results in the administrator not being able to use the keys as expected or the keys are shorter than expected and easier to brute-force, possibly resulting in MITM attacks between ntp clients and ntp servers. For short AES128 keys, ntpd generates a warning that it is padding them.

Record
CVE-2021-22212
CVSS 3.1
4.0 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-9358 4.0

ntpkeygen can generate keys that ntpd fails to parse. NTPsec 1.2.0 allows ntpkeygen to generate keys with '#' characters. ntpd then either pads, shortens the key, or fails to load these keys entirely, depending on the key type and the placement of the '#'. This results in the administrator not being able to use the keys as expected or the keys are shorter than expected and easier to brute-force, possibly resulting in MITM attacks between ntp clients and ntp servers. For short AES128 keys, ntpd generates a warning that it is padding them.

Record
EUVD-2021-9358
CVSS 3.1
4.0 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-57r9-f9gp-9f2x 7.4

ntpkeygen can generate keys that ntpd fails to parse. NTPsec 1.2.0 allows ntpkeygen to generate...

ntpkeygen can generate keys that ntpd fails to parse. NTPsec 1.2.0 allows ntpkeygen to generate keys with '#' characters. ntpd then either pads, shortens the key, or fails to load these keys entirely, depending on the key type and the placement of the '#'. This results in the administrator not being able to use the keys as expected or the keys are shorter than expected and easier to brute-force, possibly resulting in MITM attacks between ntp clients and ntp servers. For short AES128 keys, ntpd generates a warning that it is padding them.

Record
GHSA-57r9-f9gp-9f2x
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness
CWE-327
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 4.0

ntpkeygen can generate keys that ntpd fails to parse. NTPsec 1.2.0 allows ntpkeygen to generate keys with '#' characters. ntpd then either pads, shortens the key, or fails to load these keys entirely, depending on the key type and the placement of the '#'. This results in the administrator not being able to use the keys as expected or the keys are shorter than expected and easier to brute-force, possibly resulting in MITM attacks between ntp clients and ntp servers. For short AES128 keys, ntpd generates a warning that it is padding them.

Record
CVE-2021-22212
CVSS 3.1
4.0 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
CVSS 2.0
5.8 MediumAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N
Weakness
CWE-327
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2021-22212 7.4

ntpkeygen can generate keys that ntpd fails to parse. NTPsec 1.2.0 allows ntpkeygen to generate keys with '#' characters. ntpd then either pads, shortens the key, or fails to load these keys entirely, depending on the key type and the placement of the '#'. This results in the administrator not being able to use the keys as expected or the keys are shorter than expected and easier to brute-force, possibly resulting in MITM attacks between ntp clients and ntp servers. For short AES128 keys, ntpd generates a warning that it is padding them.

Record
ALPINE-CVE-2021-22212
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
OSV 7.4

ntpkeygen can generate keys that ntpd fails to parse. NTPsec 1.2.0 allows ntpkeygen to generate keys with '#' characters. ntpd then either pads, shortens the key, or fails to load these keys entirely, depending on the key type and the placement of the '#'. This results in the administrator not being able to use the keys as expected or the keys are shorter than expected and easier to brute-force, possibly resulting in MITM attacks between ntp clients and ntp servers. For short AES128 keys, ntpd generates a warning that it is padding them.

Record
CVE-2021-22212
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2021-22212 7.4

ntpkeygen can generate keys that ntpd fails to parse. NTPsec 1.2.0 allows ntpkeygen to generate keys with '#' characters. ntpd then either pads, shortens the key, or fails to load these keys entirely, depending on the key type and the placement of the '#'. This results in the administrator not being able to use the keys as expected or the keys are shorter than expected and easier to brute-force, possibly resulting in MITM attacks between ntp clients and ntp servers. For short AES128 keys, ntpd generates a warning that it is padding them.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2021-22212
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11103-1 No score

libntpc1-1.2.1-1.2 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the libntpc1-1.2.1-1.2 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:11103-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.14
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.15
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.16
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.17
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.18
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.19
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.20
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.21
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.22
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.23
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
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Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
ntpsec
Alpine:v3.24
before 1.2.1-r0
1.2.1-r0
ntpsec
Debian:12
before 1.2.0+dfsg1-4
1.2.0+dfsg1-4
ntpsec
Debian:13
before 1.2.0+dfsg1-4
1.2.0+dfsg1-4
ntpsec
Debian:14
before 1.2.0+dfsg1-4
1.2.0+dfsg1-4
ntpsec
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
before 1.2.1-1.2
1.2.1-1.2

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, aliases, referencesOSV
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2021-22212 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.0) in Ntpsec, published June 8, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.52%, the 44th percentile. Fixed in ntpsec 1.2.1-r0.

References

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