A flaw in Node.js HMAC verification uses a non-constant-time comparison when validating user-provided signatures, potentially leaking timing information proportional to the number of matching bytes. Under certain threat models where high-resolution timing measurements are possible, this behavior could be exploited as a timing oracle to infer HMAC values. Node.js already provides timing-safe comparison primitives used elsewhere in the codebase, indicating this is an oversight rather than an intentional design decision. This vulnerability affects **20.x, 22.x, 24.x, and 25.x**.
History

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Timing Side‑Channel in Node.js HMAC Verification
Weaknesses CWE-203

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw in Node.js HMAC verification uses a non-constant-time comparison when validating user-provided signatures, potentially leaking timing information proportional to the number of matching bytes. Under certain threat models where high-resolution timing measurements are possible, this behavior could be exploited as a timing oracle to infer HMAC values. Node.js already provides timing-safe comparison primitives used elsewhere in the codebase, indicating this is an oversight rather than an intentional design decision. This vulnerability affects **20.x, 22.x, 24.x, and 25.x**.
References
Metrics cvssV3_0

{'score': 5.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: hackerone

Published:

Updated: 2026-03-30T19:45:22.905Z

Reserved: 2026-01-04T15:00:06.574Z

Link: CVE-2026-21713

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-03-30T19:45:19.620Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-03-30T20:16:19.397

Modified: 2026-03-30T20:16:19.397

Link: CVE-2026-21713

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-03-30T20:55:13Z