How severe is CVE-2016-2849?

CVE-2016-2849 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2016-2849 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (82nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-2849?

CVE-2016-2849 primarily affects Botan Project Botan. In total, 32 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-2849?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2016-2849 published?

CVE-2016-2849 was published on 2016-05-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-2849

CVE-2016-2849 is a high-severity vulnerability in Botan Project Botan with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-200.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
CVSS v2: 5.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (82nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-200
Affected product: Botan Project Botan
Published: 2016-05-13
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Botan before 1.10.13 and 1.11.x before 1.11.29 do not use a constant-time algorithm to perform a modular inverse on the signature nonce k, which might allow remote attackers to obtain ECDSA secret keys via a timing side-channel attack.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-2849?: Botan before 1.10.13 and 1.11.x before 1.11.29 do not use a constant-time algorithm to perform a modular inverse on the signature nonce k, which might allow remote attackers to obtain ECDSA secret keys via a timing side-channel attack.
How severe is CVE-2016-2849?: CVE-2016-2849 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2016-2849 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (82nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-2849?: CVE-2016-2849 primarily affects Botan Project Botan. In total, 32 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-2849?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2016-2849 published?: CVE-2016-2849 was published on 2016-05-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (32)

cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.10.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.27:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:botan_project:botan:1.11.28:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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