Security Resilience

CVE-2023-46894

Crypto Weakness in Espressif Esptool 4.6.2

Public PoCCrypto Weakness
Published
09 November 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
CVSS Score v3.1 7.5
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:N/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0048 40th percentile
Risk Priority 58 floored blend · peak EPSS

CVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.

Summary

CVE-2023-46894 is a high-severity Inadequate Encryption Strength (CWE-326) vulnerability in Espressif Esptool. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).

Operationally, ranked at the 40th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

An issue discovered in esptool 4.6.2 allows attackers to view sensitive information via weak cryptographic algorithm.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-52471Same vendor: Espressif
CVE-2024-33454Same vendor: Espressif
CVE-2025-66409Same vendor: Espressif
CVE-2024-51428Same vendor: Espressif
CVE-2026-45541Same vendor: Espressif
CVE-2026-46532Same vendor: Espressif
CVE-2024-28183Same vendor: Espressif
CVE-2026-41429Same vendor: Espressif
CVE-2026-25507Same vendor: Espressif
CVE-2026-45160Same vendor: Espressif

Affected Assets

espressif
esptool
4.6.2

Mitigating Controls

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-326

Maintaining currency with technologies and practices reduces selection of encryption mechanisms that provide inadequate strength.

addresses: CWE-326

Updated assessments identify when previously adequate encryption strength no longer meets current attack capabilities or compliance drivers.

addresses: CWE-326

Establishment procedures require selection and generation of keys with adequate length and strength for the chosen algorithm.

addresses: CWE-326

Specifies required cryptography types and parameters, preventing selection of inadequate encryption strength.

addresses: CWE-326

Prompt patching corrects inadequate encryption strength when vendors release updates that increase key sizes or algorithm security.

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.

blocks

Requiring the organization to define and enforce minimum cryptographic strength prevents deployment of insufficient key lengths or weak ciphers that can be brute-forced.

Hardening callouts derived

DISA STIG baselines are authored against specific weaknesses. Where this CVE cites a broad weakness class, the mapping is not asserted at that abstraction (owner ruling, 2026-09-25: grade only at Base and below), so no rule is shown here rather than a rule shown against the wrong grain.

  • No fine-grained STIG row for CWE-326, a class-level weakness. Rules are authored against its narrower children: CWE-328.

References