Description
Matrix JavaScript SDK is the Matrix Client-Server software development kit (SDK) for JavaScript. Prior to version 19.7.0, an attacker cooperating with a malicious homeserver could interfere with the verification flow between two users, injecting its own cross-signing user identity in place of one of the users’ identities. This would lead to the other device trusting/verifying the user identity under the control of the homeserver instead of the intended one. The vulnerability is a bug in the matrix-js-sdk, caused by checking and signing user identities and devices in two separate steps, and inadequately fixing the keys to be signed between those steps. Even though the attack is partly made possible due to the design decision of treating cross-signing user identities as Matrix devices on the server side (with their device ID set to the public part of the user identity key), no other examined implementations were vulnerable. Starting with version 19.7.0, the matrix-js-sdk has been modified to double check that the key signed is the one that was verified instead of just referencing the key by ID. An additional check has been made to report an error when one of the device ID matches a cross-signing key. As this attack requires coordination between a malicious homeserver and an attacker, those who trust their homeservers do not need a particular workaround.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| matrix-org | matrix-js-sdk | < 19.7.0 | — |
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.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 11 | node-matrix-js-sdk | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | node-matrix-js-sdk | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | node-matrix-js-sdk | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | thunderbird | 1:102.4.2+build2-0ubuntu0.22.04.1 | USN-5724-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | node-matrix-js-sdk | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | thunderbird | 1:102.4.2+build2-0ubuntu0.20.04.1 | USN-5724-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | thunderbird | 1:102.4.2+build2-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 | USN-5724-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.el9_0 | RHSA-2022:7178 |
| RHEL 8 | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.el8_6 | RHSA-2022:7190 |
| RHEL 7 | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.el7_9 | RHSA-2022:7184 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8.4 EUS | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.el8_4 | RHSA-2022:7181 |
| RHEL 8.2 EUS | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.el8_2 | RHSA-2022:7182 |
| RHEL 8.1 E4S | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.el8_1 | RHSA-2022:7183 |
AlmaLinux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 9 | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.el9_0.alma | ALSA-2022:7178 |
| AlmaLinux 8 | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.el8_6.alma | ALSA-2022:7190 |
Rocky Linux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 8 | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.el8_6 | RLSA-2022:7190 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP4 | MozillaThunderbird | 102.4.0-150200.8.85.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3800-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | MozillaThunderbird | 102.4.0-150200.8.85.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3800-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | MozillaThunderbird | 102.3.1-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12379-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | element-web +1 | 1.11.8-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12375-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:12374-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | MozillaThunderbird | 102.4.0-150200.8.85.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3800-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | MozillaThunderbird | 102.4.0-150200.8.85.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3800-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | element-web | 1.11.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | element-web | 1.11.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | element-web | 1.11.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | element-web | 1.11.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | element-web | 1.11.7-r0 | — |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | element-web | 1.11.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | element-web | 1.11.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | riot-web | 1.11.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | riot-web | 1.11.7-r0 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.amzn2.0.1 | ALAS2-2022-1900 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.el9_0 | ELSA-2022-7178 |
| Oracle Linux 8 | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.0.1.el8_6 | ELSA-2022-7190 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | thunderbird | 102.4.0-1.0.1.el7_9 | ELSA-2022-7184 |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| npm | matrix-js-sdk | < 19.7.0 | 19.7.0 | GHSA-5w8r-8pgj-5jmf |
Advisories 19
- ALSA-2022:7178 Important: thunderbird security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- ALSA-2022:7190 Important: thunderbird security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- RHSA-2022:7190 Red Hat Security Advisory: thunderbird security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2022:7184 Red Hat Security Advisory: thunderbird security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2022:7183 Red Hat Security Advisory: thunderbird security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2022:7181 Red Hat Security Advisory: thunderbird security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2022:7182 Red Hat Security Advisory: thunderbird security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2022:7178 Red Hat Security Advisory: thunderbird security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- USN-5724-1 thunderbird vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- RLSA-2022:7190 Important: thunderbird security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Feb 5, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12374-1 element-desktop-1.11.8-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12379-1 MozillaThunderbird-102.3.1-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12375-1 element-web-1.11.8-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2022:3800-1 Security update for MozillaThunderbird SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ALAS2-2022-1900 Important: thunderbird security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · May 9, 2024
- WID-SEC-2022-1589 Mozilla Thunderbird: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Dec 6, 2022
- ELSA-2022-7178 Important: thunderbird security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Oct 27, 2022
- ELSA-2022-7190 Important: thunderbird security update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Oct 27, 2022
- ELSA-2022-7184 Important: thunderbird security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Oct 27, 2022
References
- https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk/commit/a587d7c36026fe1fcf93dfff63588abee359be76
- https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk/releases/tag/v19.7.0
- https://matrix.org/blog/2022/09/28/upgrade-now-to-address-encryption-vulns-in-matrix-sdks-and-clients
- https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk/security/advisories/GHSA-5w8r-8pgj-5jmf
- GLSA-202210-35 vendor-advisory