---
id: CVE-2022-0778
title: >-
  The BN_mod_sqrt() function, which computes a modular square root, contains a
  bug that can cause it to loop forever for non-prime moduli
summary: >-
  The BN_mod_sqrt() function, which computes a modular square root, contains a
  bug that can cause it to loop forever for non-prime moduli. Internally this
  function is used when parsing certificates that contain elliptic curve public
  keys i…
severity: high
cvss: 7.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-835
  - CWE-835
vendor: openssl
product: openssl
affected:
  - 'openssl >= 1.0.2, < 1.0.2zd'
  - 'openssl >= 1.1.0, < 1.1.1n'
  - 'openssl >= 3.0.0, < 3.0.2'
  - debian_linux = 9.0
  - debian_linux = 10.0
  - debian_linux = 11.0
  - cloud_volumes_ontap_mediator
  - clustered_data_ontap
  - clustered_data_ontap_antivirus_connector
  - santricity_smi-s_provider
  - storagegrid
  - a250_firmware
  - 500f_firmware
  - fedora = 34
  - fedora = 36
  - nessus < 8.15.4
  - 'nessus >= 10.0.0, < 10.1.2'
  - 'mariadb >= 10.2.0, < 10.2.42'
  - 'mariadb >= 10.3.0, < 10.3.33'
  - 'mariadb >= 10.4.0, < 10.4.23'
  - 'mariadb >= 10.5.0, < 10.5.14'
  - 'mariadb >= 10.6.0, < 10.6.6'
  - 'mariadb >= 10.7.0, < 10.7.2'
  - 'node.js >= 12.0.0, <= 12.12.0'
  - 'node.js >= 12.13.0, < 12.22.11'
  - 'node.js > 14.0.0, <= 14.14.0'
  - 'node.js >= 14.15.0, < 14.19.1'
  - 'node.js > 16.0.0, <= 16.12.0'
  - 'node.js >= 16.13.0, < 16.14.2'
  - 'node.js > 17.0.0, < 17.7.2'
patched:
  - openssl 3.0.2
  - nessus 10.1.2
  - mariadb 10.7.2
  - node.js 17.7.2
published: '2022-03-15'
updated: '2026-10-14'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-14T13:17:14.377'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-0778'
references:
  - url: >-
      http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167344/OpenSSL-1.0.2-1.1.1-3.0-BN_mod_sqrt-Infinite-Loop.html
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/33'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/35'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/38'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-712929.pdf'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: >-
      https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=3118eb64934499d93db3230748a452351d1d9a65
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: >-
      https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=380085481c64de749a6dd25cdf0bcf4360b30f83
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: >-
      https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=a466912611aa6cbdf550cd10601390e587451246
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/03/msg00023.html'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/03/msg00024.html'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/323SNN6ZX7PRJJWP2BUAFLPUAE42XWLZ/
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GDB3GQVJPXJE7X5C5JN6JAA4XUDWD6E6/
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/W6K3PR542DXWLEFFMFIDMME4CWMHJRMG/
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2022-0002'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202210-02'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220321-0002/'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220429-0005/'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240621-0006/'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213255'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213256'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213257'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5103'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://www.openssl.org/news/secadv/20220315.txt'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-06'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-07'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-08'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: 'https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-09'
    label: openssl-security@openssl.org
  - url: >-
      http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167344/OpenSSL-1.0.2-1.1.1-3.0-BN_mod_sqrt-Infinite-Loop.html
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/33'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/35'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/38'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-712929.pdf'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=3118eb64934499d93db3230748a452351d1d9a65
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=380085481c64de749a6dd25cdf0bcf4360b30f83
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=a466912611aa6cbdf550cd10601390e587451246
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/03/msg00023.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/03/msg00024.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/323SNN6ZX7PRJJWP2BUAFLPUAE42XWLZ/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GDB3GQVJPXJE7X5C5JN6JAA4XUDWD6E6/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/W6K3PR542DXWLEFFMFIDMME4CWMHJRMG/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2022-0002'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202210-02'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220321-0002/'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220429-0005/'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240621-0006/'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213255'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213256'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213257'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5103'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.openssl.org/news/secadv/20220315.txt'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-06'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-07'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-08'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-09'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019200.html'
    label: 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
  - url: 'https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-028723.html'
    label: 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
  - url: 'https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-108696.html'
    label: 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
  - url: 'https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html'
    label: 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
  - url: 'https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-712929.html'
    label: 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
tags:
  - nvd
  - exploit-available
epss: 0.73188
epssPercentile: 0.9945
exploits:
  github: 6
  githubRepos:
    - 'https://github.com/drago-96/CVE-2022-0778'
    - 'https://github.com/yywing/cve-2022-0778'
    - 'https://github.com/jkakavas/CVE-2022-0778-POC'
  checkedAt: '2026-10-14T13:31:34.729Z'
exploitAvailable: true
ingestedAt: '2026-10-14T13:30:58.409Z'
---

## Overview

The BN_mod_sqrt() function, which computes a modular square root, contains a bug that can cause it to loop forever for non-prime moduli. Internally this function is used when parsing certificates that contain elliptic curve public keys in compressed form or explicit elliptic curve parameters with a base point encoded in compressed form. It is possible to trigger the infinite loop by crafting a certificate that has invalid explicit curve parameters. Since certificate parsing happens prior to verification of the certificate signature, any process that parses an externally supplied certificate may thus be subject to a denial of service attack. The infinite loop can also be reached when parsing crafted private keys as they can contain explicit elliptic curve parameters. Thus vulnerable situations include: - TLS clients consuming server certificates - TLS servers consuming client certificates - Hosting providers taking certificates or private keys from customers - Certificate authorities parsing certification requests from subscribers - Anything else which parses ASN.1 elliptic curve parameters Also any other applications that use the BN_mod_sqrt() where the attacker can control the parameter values are vulnerable to this DoS issue. In the OpenSSL 1.0.2 version the public key is not parsed during initial parsing of the certificate which makes it slightly harder to trigger the infinite loop. However any operation which requires the public key from the certificate will trigger the infinite loop. In particular the attacker can use a self-signed certificate to trigger the loop during verification of the certificate signature. This issue affects OpenSSL versions 1.0.2, 1.1.1 and 3.0. It was addressed in the releases of 1.1.1n and 3.0.2 on the 15th March 2022. Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.2 (Affected 3.0.0,3.0.1). Fixed in OpenSSL 1.1.1n (Affected 1.1.1-1.1.1m). Fixed in OpenSSL 1.0.2zd (Affected 1.0.2-1.0.2zc).

## Affected

- `openssl >= 1.0.2, < 1.0.2zd`
- `openssl >= 1.1.0, < 1.1.1n`
- `openssl >= 3.0.0, < 3.0.2`
- `debian_linux = 9.0`
- `debian_linux = 10.0`
- `debian_linux = 11.0`
- `cloud_volumes_ontap_mediator`
- `clustered_data_ontap`
- `clustered_data_ontap_antivirus_connector`
- `santricity_smi-s_provider`
- `storagegrid`
- `a250_firmware`
- `500f_firmware`
- `fedora = 34`
- `fedora = 36`
- `nessus < 8.15.4`
- `nessus >= 10.0.0, < 10.1.2`
- `mariadb >= 10.2.0, < 10.2.42`
- `mariadb >= 10.3.0, < 10.3.33`
- `mariadb >= 10.4.0, < 10.4.23`
- `mariadb >= 10.5.0, < 10.5.14`
- `mariadb >= 10.6.0, < 10.6.6`
- `mariadb >= 10.7.0, < 10.7.2`
- `node.js >= 12.0.0, <= 12.12.0`
- `node.js >= 12.13.0, < 12.22.11`
- `node.js > 14.0.0, <= 14.14.0`
- `node.js >= 14.15.0, < 14.19.1`
- `node.js > 16.0.0, <= 16.12.0`
- `node.js >= 16.13.0, < 16.14.2`
- `node.js > 17.0.0, < 17.7.2`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `openssl 3.0.2`
- `nessus 10.1.2`
- `mariadb 10.7.2`
- `node.js 17.7.2`
