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CVE-2020-28498

Cryptographic Issues

6.8 MediumFix available

The package elliptic before 6.5.4 are vulnerable to Cryptographic Issues via the secp256k1 implementation in elliptic/ec/key.js. There is no check to confirm that the public key point passed into the derive function actually exists on the secp256k1 curve. This results in the potential for the private key used in this implementation to be revealed after a number of ECDH operations are performed.

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

1.25%Up 0.2 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 6.8

Cryptographic Issues

The package elliptic before 6.5.4 are vulnerable to Cryptographic Issues via the secp256k1 implementation in elliptic/ec/key.js. There is no check to confirm that the public key point passed into the derive function actually exists on the secp256k1 curve. This results in the potential for the private key used in this implementation to be revealed after a number of ECDH operations are performed.

Record
CVE-2020-28498
CVSS 3.1
6.8 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0704 6.8

The package elliptic before 6.5.4 are vulnerable to Cryptographic Issues via the secp256k1 implementation in elliptic/ec/key.js. There is no check to confirm that the public key point passed into the derive function actually exists on the secp256k1 curve. This results in the potential for the private key used in this implementation to be revealed after a number of ECDH operations are performed.

Record
EUVD-2021-0704
CVSS 3.1
6.8 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-r9p9-mrjm-926w 6.8

Elliptic Uses a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm

The npm package elliptic before version 6.5.4 are vulnerable to Cryptographic Issues via the secp256k1 implementation in elliptic/ec/key.js. There is no check to confirm that the public key point passed into the derive function actually exists on the secp256k1 curve. This results in the potential for the private key used in this implementation to be revealed after a number of ECDH operations are performed.

Record
GHSA-r9p9-mrjm-926w
CVSS 3.1
6.8 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-327
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 6.8

The package elliptic before 6.5.4 are vulnerable to Cryptographic Issues via the secp256k1 implementation in elliptic/ec/key.js. There is no check to confirm that the public key point passed into the derive function actually exists on the secp256k1 curve. This results in the potential for the private key used in this implementation to be revealed after a number of ECDH operations are performed.

Record
CVE-2020-28498
CVSS 3.1
6.8 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
CVSS 2.0
4.3 MediumAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-327
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 6.8

The package elliptic before 6.5.4 are vulnerable to Cryptographic Issues via the secp256k1 implementation in elliptic/ec/key.js. There is no check to confirm that the public key point passed into the derive function actually exists on the secp256k1 curve. This results in the potential for the private key used in this implementation to be revealed after a number of ECDH operations are performed.

Record
CVE-2020-28498
CVSS 3.1
6.8 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2020-28498 6.8

The package elliptic before 6.5.4 are vulnerable to Cryptographic Issues via the secp256k1 implementation in elliptic/ec/key.js. There is no check to confirm that the public key point passed into the derive function actually exists on the secp256k1 curve. This results in the potential for the private key used in this implementation to be revealed after a number of ECDH operations are performed.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2020-28498
CVSS 3.1
6.8 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 6 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-r9p9-mrjm-926w 6.8

Elliptic Uses a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm

The npm package elliptic before version 6.5.4 are vulnerable to Cryptographic Issues via the secp256k1 implementation in elliptic/ec/key.js. There is no check to confirm that the public key point passed into the derive function actually exists on the secp256k1 curve. This results in the potential for the private key used in this implementation to be revealed after a number of ECDH operations are performed.

Record
GHSA-r9p9-mrjm-926w
CVSS 3.1
6.8 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-327
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2020-28498 6.8

The package elliptic before 6.5.4 are vulnerable to Cryptographic Issues via the secp256k1 implementation in elliptic/ec/key.js. There is no check to confirm that the public key point passed into the derive function actually exists on the secp256k1 curve. This results in the potential for the private key used in this implementation to be revealed after a number of ECDH operations are performed.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2020-28498
CVSS 3.1
6.8 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVCLSA-2026-1781139210 No score

TuxCare security update for elliptic (9 CVEs)

TuxCare rebuilt elliptic to address 9 CVEs. Fixed in 6.4.1-tuxcare.1.

Record
CLSA-2026-1781139210
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVCLSA-2026-1792163746 No score

TuxCare security update for elliptic (1 CVE)

TuxCare rebuilt elliptic to address 1 CVE. Fixed in 6.5.3-tuxcare.1.

Record
CLSA-2026-1792163746
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVCLSA-2026-1793101918 No score

TuxCare security update for elliptic (6 CVEs)

TuxCare rebuilt elliptic to address 6 CVEs. Fixed in 6.5.1-tuxcare.2.

Record
CLSA-2026-1793101918
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVROOT-APP-NPM-CVE-2020-28498 No score

CVE-2020-28498 in elliptic - Patched by Root

Root has patched CVE-2020-28498 in the elliptic package for Root:npm. Multiple fixed versions available.

Record
ROOT-APP-NPM-CVE-2020-28498
Updated
2026-11-06

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
elliptic
npm
 before 6.5.4
6.5.4
elliptic
TuxCare:npm
From an advisory covering 8 CVEs
 6.4.1-tuxcare.0 up to 6.4.1-tuxcare.1, plus listed versions
6.4.1
6.4.1-tuxcare.1
elliptic
TuxCare:npm
 6.5.3-tuxcare.0 up to 6.5.3-tuxcare.1, plus listed versions
6.5.3
6.5.3-tuxcare.1
elliptic
TuxCare:npm
From an advisory covering 6 CVEs
 6.5.1-tuxcare.0 up to 6.5.1-tuxcare.2, plus listed versions
6.5.16.5.1-tuxcare.1
6.5.1-tuxcare.2
node-elliptic
Debian:12
 before 6.5.4~dfsg-1
6.5.4~dfsg-1
node-elliptic
Debian:13
 before 6.5.4~dfsg-1
6.5.4~dfsg-1
node-elliptic
Debian:14
 before 6.5.4~dfsg-1
6.5.4~dfsg-1
elliptic
Root:npm
 before 6.5.4-aikido.1
6.5.4-aikido.16.5.4-aikido.2
@rootio/elliptic
Root:npm
 before 6.5.4-root.io.1
6.5.4-root.io.16.5.4-root.io.2
node-elliptic
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.4.0+dfsg-1
 None known
Show 6 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
node-elliptic
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.5.1~dfsg-16.5.1~dfsg-2
 None known
node-elliptic
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.5.4~dfsg-1
 None known
node-elliptic
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.5.4~dfsg-2
 None known
node-elliptic
Ubuntu:25.10
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.6.1+dfsg-1
 None known
node-elliptic
Ubuntu:26.10
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.6.1+dfsg+~6.4.18-16.6.1+dfsg+~6.4.18-2
 None known
node-elliptic
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.6.1+dfsg-16.6.1+dfsg+~6.4.18-1
 None known

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affectedOSV
affected
affected, aliases, cwes, facts, references
aliases, publishedEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

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

In short

CVE-2020-28498 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.8) in Indutny Elliptic, published February 2, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.25%, the 69th percentile. Fixed in elliptic 6.5.4.

References

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