CVE-2022-39254
When matrix-nio receives forwarded room keys, the receiver doesn't check if it requested the key from the forwarder
matrix-nio is a Python Matrix client library, designed according to sans I/O principles. Prior to version 0.20, when a users requests a room key from their devices, the software correctly remember the request. Once they receive a forwarded room key, they accept it without checking who the room key came from. This allows homeservers to try to insert room keys of questionable validity, potentially mounting an impersonation attack. Version 0.20 fixes the issue.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.6
When matrix-nio receives forwarded room keys, the receiver doesn't check if it requested the key from the forwarder
matrix-nio is a Python Matrix client library, designed according to sans I/O principles. Prior to version 0.20, when a users requests a room key from their devices, the software correctly remember the request. Once they receive a forwarded room key, they accept it without checking who the room key came from. This allows homeservers to try to insert room keys of questionable validity, potentially mounting an impersonation attack. Version 0.20 fixes the issue.
- Record
CVE-2022-39254- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-322, CWE-287
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-6957
8.6
matrix-nio is a Python Matrix client library, designed according to sans I/O principles. Prior to version 0.20, when a users requests a room key from their devices, the software correctly remember the request. Once they receive a forwarded room key, they accept it without checking who the room key came from. This allows homeservers to try to insert room keys of questionable validity, potentially mounting an impersonation attack. Version 0.20 fixes the issue.
- Record
EUVD-2022-6957- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-w4pr-4vjg-hffh
8.6
When matrix-nio receives forwarded room keys, the receiver doesn't check if it requested the key from the forwarder
When matrix-nio before 0.20 requests a room key from our devices, it correctly accepts key forwards only if they are a response to a previous request. However, it doesn't check that the device that responded matches the device the key was requested from.
This allows a malicious homeserver to insert room keys of questionable validity into the key store in some situations, potentially assisting in an impersonation attack.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, e-mail us at [email protected].
- Record
GHSA-w4pr-4vjg-hffh- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-287, CWE-322
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
8.6
matrix-nio is a Python Matrix client library, designed according to sans I/O principles. Prior to version 0.20, when a users requests a room key from their devices, the software correctly remember the request. Once they receive a forwarded room key, they accept it without checking who the room key came from. This allows homeservers to try to insert room keys of questionable validity, potentially mounting an impersonation attack. Version 0.20 fixes the issue.
- Record
CVE-2022-39254- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-287, CWE-322
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.6
When matrix-nio receives forwarded room keys, the receiver doesn't check if it requested the key from the forwarder
matrix-nio is a Python Matrix client library, designed according to sans I/O principles. Prior to version 0.20, when a users requests a room key from their devices, the software correctly remember the request. Once they receive a forwarded room key, they accept it without checking who the room key came from. This allows homeservers to try to insert room keys of questionable validity, potentially mounting an impersonation attack. Version 0.20 fixes the issue.
- Record
CVE-2022-39254- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-287, CWE-322
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2022-39254
6.5
matrix-nio is a Python Matrix client library, designed according to sans I/O principles. Prior to version 0.20, when a users requests a room key from their devices, the software correctly remember the request. Once they receive a forwarded room key, they accept it without checking who the room key came from. This allows homeservers to try to insert room keys of questionable validity, potentially mounting an impersonation attack. Version 0.20 fixes the issue.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2022-39254- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
OSVGHSA-w4pr-4vjg-hffh
8.6
When matrix-nio receives forwarded room keys, the receiver doesn't check if it requested the key from the forwarder
When matrix-nio before 0.20 requests a room key from our devices, it correctly accepts key forwards only if they are a response to a previous request. However, it doesn't check that the device that responded matches the device the key was requested from.
This allows a malicious homeserver to insert room keys of questionable validity into the key store in some situations, potentially assisting in an impersonation attack.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, e-mail us at [email protected].
- Record
GHSA-w4pr-4vjg-hffh- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-287, CWE-322
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2026-842
8.6
When matrix-nio receives forwarded room keys, the receiver doesn't check if it requested the key from the forwarder
When matrix-nio before 0.20 requests a room key from our devices, it correctly accepts key forwards only if they are a response to a previous request. However, it doesn't check that the device that responded matches the device the key was requested from.
This allows a malicious homeserver to insert room keys of questionable validity into the key store in some situations, potentially assisting in an impersonation attack.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, e-mail us at [email protected].
- Record
PYSEC-2026-842- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2022-39254
8.6
matrix-nio is a Python Matrix client library, designed according to sans I/O principles. Prior to version 0.20, when a users requests a room key from their devices, the software correctly remember the request. Once they receive a forwarded room key, they accept it without checking who the room key came from. This allows homeservers to try to insert room keys of questionable validity, potentially mounting an impersonation attack. Version 0.20 fixes the issue.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2022-39254- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
matrix-nioPyPI |
before 0.20 | 0.20 |
python-matrix-nioDebian:12 |
before 0.20.0-1 | 0.20.0-1 |
python-matrix-nioDebian:13 |
before 0.20.0-1 | 0.20.0-1 |
python-matrix-nioDebian:14 |
before 0.20.0-1 | 0.20.0-1 |
matrix-nioPyPI |
before 0.20, plus listed versions 0.10.00.11.00.11.10.11.20.12.0 Show 28 moreShow less0.13.00.14.00.14.10.15.00.15.10.15.20.16.00.17.00.18.00.18.10.18.20.18.30.18.40.18.50.18.60.18.70.19.00.20.30.40.4.10.50.60.70.7.10.7.20.8.00.9.0 |
0.20 |
python-matrix-nioUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.16.0-10.18.7-10.19.0-2 |
None known |
python-matrix-nioUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.21.2-10.23.0-10.24.0-1 |
None known |
python-matrix-nioUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.25.2-1 |
None known |
python-matrix-nioUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.25.2-2 |
None known |
python-matrix-nioUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.25.2-10.25.2-2 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2022-39254 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.6) in Matrix-nio Project Matrix-nio, published September 29, 2022. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.68%, the 52nd percentile. Fixed in matrix-nio 0.20.
References
github.com/poljar/matrix-nio/security/advisories/GHSA-w4pr-4vjg-hffh
github.com/poljar/matrix-nio/commit/b1cbf234a831daa160673defd596e6450e9c29f0
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-39254
github.com/advisories/GHSA-w4pr-4vjg-hffh
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2022/39xxx/CVE-2022-39254.json
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2022-39254