Skip to content
Noroxi
NVD / CVE Program· CNA GitHub_M

CVE-2021-32791: Hardcoded static IV and AAD with a reused key in AES GCM encryption in mod_auth_openidc

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 23/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 1.5% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 74.3% of all records.
  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.
  • Fixed version: cjose (AlmaLinux:8) 0.6.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709; cjose-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 0.6.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709; mod_auth_openidc (AlmaLinux:8) 2.3.7-11.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to cjose (AlmaLinux:8) 0.6.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709; cjose-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 0.6.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709; mod_auth_openidc (AlmaLinux:8) 2.3.7-11.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

mod_auth_openidc is an authentication/authorization module for the Apache 2.x HTTP server that functions as an OpenID Connect Relying Party, authenticating users against an OpenID Connect Provider. In mod_auth_openidc before version 2.4.9, the AES GCM encryption in mod_auth_openidc uses a static IV and AAD. It is important to fix because this creates a static nonce and since aes-gcm is a stream cipher, this can lead to known cryptographic issues, since the same key is being reused. From 2.4.9 onwards this has been patched to use dynamic values through usage of cjose AES encryption routines.

MediumCVSS 5.9 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Jul 26, 2021
Updated
Jun 16, 2026
EPSS
1.5% · 74th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

23

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
23 / 40 · 5.9 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 1.5%

CNA vs NVD score

NVD
5.9
CNA · GitHub_M
5.9
agree

The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

Follow CVE-2021-32791

When you'll hear from us

  • when it enters CISA KEV
  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

One daily email digest (06:00 UTC); connect a webhook for KEV listings and weaponized exploits instantly.

Your free account also gets you

Running WordPress? Scan your site free with WP Lens

  • Stack alerts: add the products and versions you run, get the new CVEs that affect them
  • Uptime monitoring: 1 site, instant email when it goes down
  • Add your domain: subdomains and takeover risk scanned every week (1 domain)
  • 10 scans an hour on the security tools (3 a day without an account), an API key and MCP
  • All your scans in one panel: findings, what changed in the last scan, a report per domain or per client (PDF, share link)
All free tools

Sign up with email · Have an account? Sign in

Free account, no card. Unfollow any time.

Running WordPress? Scan your site free with WP Lens

Is your version affected? Check it

Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

We use this product, ask for help

Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
openidcmod auth openidc
apachehttp server
fedoraprojectfedora

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • fedoraproject fedora33
  • fedoraproject fedora34
  • openidc mod auth openidcbefore 2.4.9

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_M). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • zmartzone mod_auth_openidc

    • < 2.4.9affected

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
AlmaLinux:8cjosebefore 0.6.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2868+448387090.6.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709
AlmaLinux:8cjose-develbefore 0.6.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2868+448387090.6.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709
AlmaLinux:8mod_auth_openidcbefore 2.3.7-11.module_el8.6.0+2868+448387092.3.7-11.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709
Debian:10libapache2-mod-auth-openidcbefore 2.3.10.2-1+deb10u22.3.10.2-1+deb10u2
Debian:12libapache2-mod-auth-openidcbefore 2.4.9-12.4.9-1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2apache2-mod_auth_openidcbefore 2.3.8-lp152.5.6.12.3.8-lp152.5.6.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3apache2-mod_auth_openidcbefore 2.3.8-3.15.12.3.8-3.15.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.6apache2-mod_auth_openidcbefore 2.4.17.1-150600.16.14.12.4.17.1-150600.16.14.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamcjosebefore 0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamcjose-debuginfobefore 0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamcjose-debugsourcebefore 0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamcjose-develbefore 0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreammod_auth_openidcbefore 0:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+14082+b6f23e950:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+14082+b6f23e95
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreammod_auth_openidc-debuginfobefore 0:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+14082+b6f23e950:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+14082+b6f23e95
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreammod_auth_openidc-debugsourcebefore 0:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+14082+b6f23e950:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+14082+b6f23e95
Rocky Linux:8cjosebefore 0:0.6.1-2.module+el8.3.0+129+2feafa460:0.6.1-2.module+el8.3.0+129+2feafa46
Rocky Linux:8mod_auth_openidcbefore 0:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+840+73eca44e0:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+840+73eca44e
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP2apache2-mod_auth_openidcbefore 2.3.8-3.15.12.3.8-3.15.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP6apache2-mod_auth_openidcbefore 2.4.17.1-150600.16.14.12.4.17.1-150600.16.14.1
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5apache2-mod_auth_openidcbefore 2.4.0-3.23.12.4.0-3.23.1

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2017-6413The "OpenID Connect Relying Party and OAuth 2.0 Resource Server" (aka mod_auth_openidc) module before 2.1.6 for the Apache HTTP Server does
    35Monitor
  • CVE-2017-6062The "OpenID Connect Relying Party and OAuth 2.0 Resource Server" (aka mod_auth_openidc) module before 2.1.5 for the Apache HTTP Server does
    35Monitor
  • CVE-2017-6059Mod_auth_openidc.c in the Ping Identity OpenID Connect authentication module for Apache (aka mod_auth_openidc) before 2.14 allows remote att
    32Monitor

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2021-32785Jul 22, 2021 · Format string bug in the Redis cache implementation
    31Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2021-32786Jul 22, 2021 · Open Redirect in oidc_validate_redirect_url()
    25Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2021-32792Jul 26, 2021 · XSS vulnerability when using OIDCPreservePost On in mod_auth_openidc
    24Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
almalinux:cjose0.6.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:cjose-devel0.6.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:mod_auth_openidc2.3.7-11.module_el8.6.0+2868+44838709 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
debian:libapache2-mod-auth-openidc2.4.9-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:apache2-mod_auth_openidc2.4.17.1-150600.16.14.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
red hat:cjose0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:cjose-debuginfo0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:cjose-debugsource0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:cjose-devel0:0.6.1-2.module+el8+2454+f890a43a · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:mod_auth_openidc0:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+14082+b6f23e95 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:mod_auth_openidc-debuginfo0:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+14082+b6f23e95 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:mod_auth_openidc-debugsource0:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+14082+b6f23e95 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
rocky linux:cjose0:0.6.1-2.module+el8.3.0+129+2feafa46 · Rocky Linux:8Package registry (OSV)
rocky linux:mod_auth_openidc0:2.3.7-11.module+el8.6.0+840+73eca44e · Rocky Linux:8Package registry (OSV)
suse:apache2-mod_auth_openidc2.3.8-3.15.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP2Package registry (OSV)
suse:apache2-mod_auth_openidc2.4.17.1-150600.16.14.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

No credits in the CNA record.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
  • No account or password is required.
  • No user action is required.
  • Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.

If successful

Confidentiality
high · data can be read
Integrity
none
Availability
none
Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
High
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
None

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

All records