Description
The OpenSSL 3.0 implementation of the RC4-MD5 ciphersuite incorrectly uses the AAD data as the MAC key. This makes the MAC key trivially predictable. An attacker could exploit this issue by performing a man-in-the-middle attack to modify data being sent from one endpoint to an OpenSSL 3.0 recipient such that the modified data would still pass the MAC integrity check. Note that data sent from an OpenSSL 3.0 endpoint to a non-OpenSSL 3.0 endpoint will always be rejected by the recipient and the connection will fail at that point. Many application protocols require data to be sent from the client to the server first. Therefore, in such a case, only an OpenSSL 3.0 server would be impacted when talking to a non-OpenSSL 3.0 client. If both endpoints are OpenSSL 3.0 then the attacker could modify data being sent in both directions. In this case both clients and servers could be affected, regardless of the application protocol. Note that in the absence of an attacker this bug means that an OpenSSL 3.0 endpoint communicating with a non-OpenSSL 3.0 endpoint will fail to complete the handshake when using this ciphersuite. The confidentiality of data is not impacted by this issue, i.e. an attacker cannot decrypt data that has been encrypted using this ciphersuite - they can only modify it. In order for this attack to work both endpoints must legitimately negotiate the RC4-MD5 ciphersuite. This ciphersuite is not compiled by default in OpenSSL 3.0, and is not available within the default provider or the default ciphersuite list. This ciphersuite will never be used if TLSv1.3 has been negotiated. In order for an OpenSSL 3.0 endpoint to use this ciphersuite the following must have occurred: 1) OpenSSL must have been compiled with the (non-default) compile time option enable-weak-ssl-ciphers 2) OpenSSL must have had the legacy provider explicitly loaded (either through application code or via configuration) 3) The ciphersuite must have been explicitly added to the ciphersuite list 4) The libssl security level must have been set to 0 (default is 1) 5) A version of SSL/TLS below TLSv1.3 must have been negotiated 6) Both endpoints must negotiate the RC4-MD5 ciphersuite in preference to any others that both endpoints have in common Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.3 (Affected 3.0.0,3.0.1,3.0.2).
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenSSL | OpenSSL | Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.3 (Affected 3.0.0,3.0.1,3.0.2) | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | openssl | 3.0.2-0ubuntu1.1 | USN-5402-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | openssl | 1.1.1f-1ubuntu2.13 | USN-5402-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | openssl | 1.1.1-1ubuntu2.1~18.04.17 | USN-5402-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | openssl1.0 | 1.0.2n-1ubuntu5.9 | USN-5402-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | edk2 | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP4 | openssl-3 | 3.0.1-150400.4.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2306-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | openssl-3 | 3.0.5-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12204-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | openssl-3 | 3.0.1-150400.4.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2306-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | openssl | 3.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | openssl | 3.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | openssl | 3.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | openssl | 3.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | openssl | 3.0.3-r0 | — |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | openssl | 3.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | openssl | 3.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | openssl | 3.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | openssl3 | 3.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | openssl3 | 3.0.3-r0 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | openssl +3 | 1:3.0.5-1.amzn2023.0.4 | ALAS2023-2023-051 |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| crates.io | openssl-src | >= 300.0.0, < 300.0.6 | 300.0.6 | GHSA-638m-m8mh-7gw2 |
Advisories 12
- SSA-398330 SSA-398330: Vulnerabilities in the additional GNU/Linux subsystem of the SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518(F)-4 PN/DP MFP >= V3.1.0 and < V3.1.5 Siemens ProductCERT · Oct 13, 2026
- SSA-794697 SSA-794697: Vulnerabilities in the Additional GNU/Linux Subsystem of the SIMATIC S7-1500 TM MFP Before V1.1 Siemens ProductCERT · Oct 13, 2026
- USN-5402-1 openssl, openssl1.0 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- WID-SEC-2022-0071 OpenSSL: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Feb 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12204-1 libopenssl-3-devel-3.0.5-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ICSA-23-348-10 Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 CISA ICS & IT advisories · Aug 12, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2022:2306-1 Security update for openssl-3 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ICSA-23-166-11 Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 TM MFP Linux Kernel CISA ICS & IT advisories · Apr 9, 2024
- WID-SEC-2023-1432 Siemens SIMATIC S7: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jun 22, 2023
- ALAS2023-2023-051 Important: openssl security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Feb 22, 2023
- SSA-953464 SSA-953464: Multiple Vulnerabilites in Siemens Brownfield Connectivity - Client before V2.15 Siemens ProductCERT · Feb 14, 2023
- ICSA-23-047-03 Siemens Brownfield Connectivity Client CISA ICS & IT advisories · Feb 14, 2023