CVE-2022-39251

Matrix Javascript SDK vulnerable to Olm/Megolm protocol confusion

HIGH
7.5
CVSS Score
Published: September 28, 2022 at 12:00 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 04:57 AM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsJavaScript SDKJavaScript SDK

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Severity
HIGH7.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 1%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

Matrix Javascript SDK is the Matrix Client-Server SDK for JavaScript. Prior to version 19.7.0, an attacker cooperating with a malicious homeserver can construct messages that legitimately appear to have come from another person, without any indication such as a grey shield. Additionally, a sophisticated attacker cooperating with a malicious homeserver could employ this vulnerability to perform a targeted attack in order to send fake to-device messages appearing to originate from another user. This can allow, for example, to inject the key backup secret during a self-verification, to make a targeted device start using a malicious key backup spoofed by the homeserver. These attacks are possible due to a protocol confusion vulnerability that accepts to-device messages encrypted with Megolm instead of Olm. Starting with version 19.7.0, matrix-js-sdk has been modified to only accept Olm-encrypted to-device messages. Out of caution, several other checks have been audited or added. This attack requires coordination between a malicious home server and an attacker, so those who trust their home servers do not need a workaround.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 19.7.0
Affected range stops below 19.7.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
v < 19.7.0
Affected range stops below 19.7.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitAutomatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-287CWE-322

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