Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-46233

Crypto Weakness in Crypto-Js Project Crypto-Js ≤ 4.2.0

Published
25 October 2023
Modified
23 June 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.1
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0063 47th percentile
Risk Priority 69 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-46233 is a critical-severity Use of Weak Hash (CWE-328) vulnerability in Crypto-Js Project Crypto-Js. Its CVSS base score is 9.1 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique OS Credential Dumping (T1003); ranked at the 47th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

crypto-js is a JavaScript library of crypto standards. Prior to version 4.2.0, crypto-js PBKDF2 is 1,000 times weaker than originally specified in 1993, and at least 1,300,000 times weaker than current industry standard. This is because it both defaults to…

more

SHA1, a cryptographic hash algorithm considered insecure since at least 2005, and defaults to one single iteration, a 'strength' or 'difficulty' value specified at 1,000 when specified in 1993. PBKDF2 relies on iteration count as a countermeasure to preimage and collision attacks. If used to protect passwords, the impact is high. If used to generate signatures, the impact is high. Version 4.2.0 contains a patch for this issue. As a workaround, configure crypto-js to use SHA256 with at least 250,000 iterations.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1003 OS Credential Dumping Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to dump credentials to obtain account login and credential material, normally in the form of a hash or a clear text password.
T1110 Brute Force Credential Access
Adversaries may use brute force techniques to gain access to accounts when passwords are unknown or when password hashes are obtained.
T1110.002 Password Cracking Credential Access
Adversaries may use password cracking to attempt to recover usable credentials, such as plaintext passwords, when credential material such as password hashes are obtained.
T1555 Credentials from Password Stores Credential Access
Adversaries may search for common password storage locations to obtain user credentials.
T1555.005 Password Managers Credential Access
Adversaries may acquire user credentials from third-party password managers.
T1557 Adversary-in-the-Middle Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to position themselves between two or more networked devices using an adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) technique to support follow-on behaviors such as [Network Sniffing](https://attack.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-46133Shared CWE-327, CWE-328
CVE-2025-26486Shared CWE-327, CWE-328
CVE-2023-0452Shared CWE-327, CWE-328
CVE-2026-14738Shared CWE-327, CWE-328
CVE-2026-13510Shared CWE-327, CWE-328
CVE-2025-11650Shared CWE-327, CWE-328
CVE-2024-55885Shared CWE-327, CWE-328
CVE-2024-40465Shared CWE-327, CWE-328
CVE-2025-8260Shared CWE-327, CWE-328
CVE-2026-13482Shared CWE-327, CWE-328

Affected Assets

crypto-js project
crypto-js
≤ 4.2.0

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 11 hardening rules · 6 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V11.2.3
  • V6.5.2
  • V11.4.2

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-327 CWE-916

Contacts with security groups provide timely information on broken or risky cryptographic algorithms, reducing the likelihood of their selection and use.

addresses: CWE-327 CWE-328

Enforces approved cryptographic algorithms for each use case, blocking use of broken or risky algorithms.

addresses: CWE-327 CWE-328

Flaw remediation replaces broken or risky cryptographic algorithms once safer implementations are released by vendors.

addresses: CWE-327

Ongoing education and sharing of recommended practices helps organizations identify and migrate away from broken or risky cryptographic algorithms.

addresses: CWE-327

Cross-organization threat feeds commonly include advances in cryptanalysis and active exploits against weak or broken algorithms, allowing organizations to deprecate them proactively.

addresses: CWE-327

Capital planning and funding allow selection and ongoing support of strong cryptographic algorithms rather than weak or broken ones.

addresses: CWE-327

Risk updates surface newly-broken or risky cryptographic algorithms as threat intelligence and computing advances evolve, enabling timely replacement.

addresses: CWE-327

Scanners flag use of broken or weak cryptographic algorithms via known-vulnerability databases.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 full match
prevents

Secure-SDLC requirements explicitly forbid weak cryptographic algorithms, fully preventing CWE-328 while covering only one aspect of development practice.

PR.DS-01 mostly match
prevents

Proper data-at-rest integrity protection requires strong cryptographic hashes, directly blocking weak-hash usage.

PR.DS-02 mostly match
prevents

Data-in-transit integrity likewise depends on strong hashes, so the control prevents the weakness while the weakness only partially satisfies the outcome.

PR.AA-03 partial match
prevents

Authentication policies may reference password handling but do not address storage or computational cost of hashes.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Mandates use of approved cryptographic algorithms, directly preventing weak-hash selection.

finds

Security testing can detect weak-hash usage but does not prescribe algorithm choice.

degrades

Requires secure handling of authentication information, which includes choosing strong password hashing schemes.

prevents

The explicit call-out of cryptography-related legal constraints (import/export, key escrow, digital-signature validity) reduces the likelihood that an organization will adopt broken or non-compliant cryptographic algorithms that violate those rules.

prevents

Access to current specialist guidance and early vulnerability alerts enables timely replacement of broken or risky cryptographic algorithms with stronger alternatives.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify strong hashing, but the control is broader.

Hardening callouts derived

Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).

Oracle Linux 8 (1 rule)
  • V-248524 OL 8 must implement NIST FIPS-validated cryptography for the following: To provision digital signatures, to generate cryptographic hashes, and to protect data requiring data-at-rest protections in accordance with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, and standards. prevents CWE-327
Windows 10 (1 rule)
  • V-220937 The system must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327, CWE-328
Windows 11 (1 rule)
  • V-253461 The system must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327, CWE-328
Windows Server 2016 (1 rule)
  • V-225053 Windows Server 2016 must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327, CWE-328
Windows Server 2019 (1 rule)
  • V-205654 Windows Server 2019 must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327, CWE-328
Windows Server 2022 (1 rule)
  • V-254474 Windows Server 2022 must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327, CWE-328

References