CVE-2025-48946
lowpriority · track · 0OT risk · elevatedEPSS 0.002 · 16 %ileEUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
liboqs is a C-language cryptographic library that provides implementations of post-quantum cryptography algorithms. liboqs prior to version 0.13.0 supports the HQC algorithm, an algorithm with a theoretical design flaw which leads to large numbers of malformed ciphertexts sharing the same implicit rejection value. Currently, no concrete attack on the algorithm is known. However, prospective users of HQC must take extra care when using the algorithm in protocols involving key derivation. In particular, HQC does not provide the same security guarantees as Kyber or ML-KEM. There is currently no patch for the HQC flaw available in liboqs, so HQC is disabled by default in liboqs starting from version 0.13.0. OQS will update its implementation after the HQC team releases an updated algorithm specification.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (2)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
also known as (2)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (14)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://durumcrustulum.com/2024/02/24/how-to-hold-kems/#hqccnnvd
- https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/commit/a7d698ca9c9d98990647459253183cbe29c550afcnnvd
- https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/releasesPatchcnnvd
- https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/security/advisories/GHSA-3rxw-4v8q-9gq5cnnvd
- https://groups.google.com/a/list.nist.gov/g/pqc-forum/c/Wiu4ZQo3fP80cnnvd
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-48946cnnvd
- https://durumcrustulum.com/2024/02/24/how-to-hold-kems/#hqcenisa_euvd
- https://github.com/open-quantum-safe/liboqs/commit/a7d698ca9c9d98990647459253183cbe29c550afenisa_euvd
Attackers weaponise vulnerabilities like this against internet-exposed services. See what is exposed on your perimeter with a free passive scan.
Free scan