CVE-2026-5477: Prefix-substitution forgery via integer overflow in wolfCrypt CMAC

Published Apr 10, 2026
·
Updated

An integer overflow existed in the wolfCrypt CMAC implementation, that could be exploited to forge CMAC tags. The function wcCmacUpdate used the guard if (cmac->totalSz != 0) to skip XOR-chaining on the first block (where digest is all-zeros and the XOR is a no-op). However, totalSz is word32 and wraps to zero after 2^28 block flushes (4 GiB), causing the guard to erroneously discard the live CBC-MAC chain state. Any two messages sharing a common suffix beyond the 4 GiB mark then produce identical CMAC tags, enabling a zero-work prefix-substitution forgery. The fix removes the guard, making the XOR unconditional; the no-op property on the first block is preserved because digest is zero-initialized by wcInitCmacex.

Affected Software

2 affected components
wolfSSL wolfCrypt
wolfSSL wolfssl<=5.9.0

Event History

Apr 10, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:06 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:06 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:16 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Jan 26, 58293
Event
via FIRST·10:26 AM
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-5477?

CVE-2026-5477 is classified as a high severity vulnerability due to the potential for prefix-substitution forgery via integer overflow.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-5477?

To fix CVE-2026-5477, update to the latest version of wolfCrypt where the vulnerability has been addressed.

3

What are the consequences of exploiting CVE-2026-5477?

Exploiting CVE-2026-5477 can allow an attacker to forge CMAC tags, compromising the integrity of cryptographic operations.

4

Which versions of wolfCrypt are affected by CVE-2026-5477?

CVE-2026-5477 affects all versions of wolfCrypt prior to the patch that addresses this specific vulnerability.

5

Is the CVE-2026-5477 vulnerability related to any specific functionality in wolfCrypt?

Yes, CVE-2026-5477 is specifically related to the implementation of the CMAC function in wolfCrypt.

Contact

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