Published July 24, 2026Updated August 13, 2026Source: osv
Summary
## Summary
`sm-crypto` (npm package **0.4.0**, the latest release, published 2026-01-20)
generates SM2 private keys and signing ephemeral scalars from a single
module-wide RNG instance (`src/sm2/utils.js`: `const rng = new SecureRandom()`).
`SecureRandom` is jsbn's PRNG, which seeds an **ARC4** stream from
`window.crypto.getRandomValues` when available. **In Node.js — sm-crypto's
primary runtime — `window` is `undefined`, so the CSPRNG branch is skipped**
and the seed pool is instead filled from `Math.random()` (V8 `xorshift128+`,
recoverable from a few outputs) plus `new Date().getTime()` (wall clock,
attacker-estimable).
Node *does* expose Web Crypto as `globalThis.crypto`, but jsbn checks
`window.crypto`, not `globalThis.crypto`, so the secure path is never taken.
Consequently every SM2 private key produced by the default
`sm2.generateKeyPairHex()` and every signing ephemeral scalar is derived from
non-cryptographic sources and is **predictable** by an attacker who can observe
a few `Math.random()` outputs and estimate the generation time.
This is the library's **default** (no-argument) path; no caller-selected
parameter or configuration is required to trigger it. It is reproduced
end-to-end against the unmodified real npm packages (`sm-crypto@0.4.0` +
`jsbn@1.1.0`); the PoC below runs against the real installed package, not a
copy. The defect is still present on the latest published version (0.4.0) and
is not covered by any existing `JuneAndGreen/sm-crypto` issue (0 afldl issues
exist; the most recent issues are unrelated SM3/HKDF/PBKDF2 feature requests).
## Details
`jsbn@1.1.0` `index.js` — RNG pool initialization (fallback taken in Node):
```js
if (rng_pool == null) {
rng_pool = new Array(); rng_pptr = 0; var t;
if (typeof window !== "undefined" && window.crypto) { // <-- false in Node
if (window.crypto.getRandomValues) { /* webcrypto */ }
...
}
while (rng_pptr < rng_psize) { // <-- fallback path
t = Math.floor(65536 * Math.random()); // Math.random()
rng_pool[rng_pptr++] = t >>> 8;
rng_pool[rng_pptr++] = t & 255;
}
rng_pptr = 0;
rng_seed_time(); // + Date.getTime()
}
```
`sm-crypto` `src/sm2/utils.js`:
```js
const { SecureRandom } = require('jsbn');
const rng = new SecureRandom(); // single module-wide RNG
...
function generateKeyPairHex(a, b, c) {
const random = a ? new BigInteger(a, b, c)
: new BigInteger(n.bitLength(), rng); // uses rng
const d = random.mod(n.subtract(BigInteger.ONE)).add(BigInteger.ONE); // private key
...
}
```
The default (no-argument) call path uses `rng`, the jsbn ARC4 instance seeded
from `Math.random()` + time. The same `rng` feeds the signing ephemeral
scalar during SM2 signing.
## PoC
The PoC runs against the real installed npm packages. It pins `Math.random`
and `Date` **before** `require('sm-crypto')` so jsbn's seed pool is built from
controlled inputs. Three independent fresh Node processes then produce the
**same** SM2 private key, proving the key is a pure deterministic function of
those non-cryptographic sources. It also prints a probe confirming the fallback
branch is taken in Node.
### One-line reproducer
```bash
WORK=$(mktemp -d) && cd "$WORK" && npm init -y >/dev/null \
&& npm install sm-crypto@0.4.0 jsbn@1.1.0 >/dev/null \
&& export NODE_PATH="$WORK/node_modules" \
&& node poc.js probe && node poc.js deterministic && node poc.js deterministic
```
### `poc.js`
```js
/*
* PoC for sm-crypto predictable default RNG in Node.js.
*
* sm-crypto (npm 0.4.0) generates SM2 private keys / ephemeral scalars using
* jsbn's SecureRandom. In a browser jsbn seeds ARC4 from window.crypto, but in
* Node.js `window` is undefined so the CSPRNG branch is skipped and the pool is
* filled from Math.random() plus new Date().getTime(). Both are
* non-cryptographic; the time is attacker-estimable and V8's Math.random is a
* recoverable xorshift128+ stream. Consequently SM2 keys produced by the
* default path are predictable.
*
* This PoC proves the key is a deterministic function of those two inputs: we
* pin Math.random and the clock to fixed values BEFORE sm-crypto (and therefore
* jsbn) is loaded, then generate a keypair. Re-running with the same pinned
* values reproduces the exact same private key.
*/
const MODE = process.argv[2] || 'probe'; // 'probe' | 'deterministic'
if (MODE === 'deterministic') {
// --- pin entropy sources BEFORE requiring sm-crypto/jsbn ---
const fixedTime = 1700000000000;
let s = 0x12345678 >>> 0;
Math.random = function () {
// tiny deterministic LCG standing in for the (already non-crypto) Math.random
s = (Math.imul(s, 1103515245) + 12345) >>> 0;
return s / 0x100000000;
};
const RealDate = globalThis.Date;
class FixedDate extends RealDate {
constructor(...a) { super(...(a.length === 0 ? [fixedTime] : a)); }
}
FixedDate.now = () => fixedTime;
globalThis.Date = FixedDate;
}
const sm2 = require('sm-crypto').sm2;
const kp = sm2.generateKeyPairHex();
console.log('PRIVATE=' + kp.privateKey);
if (MODE === 'probe') {
console.log('--- probe ---');
console.log('typeof window =', typeof window, '(undefined in Node => jsbn CSPRNG branch skipped)');
console.log('typeof globalThis.crypto =', typeof globalThis.crypto, '(Node Web Crypto exists but jsbn checks window.crypto, not globalThis.crypto)');
console.log('Math.random sample =', Math.random());
console.log('Date.now() =', Date.now(), '(attacker-estimable, mixed into ARC4 seed)');
}
```
Real captured output:
```
===== PROBE (real default path, no patching) =====
PRIVATE=6072e45733a4187791ec28ce906fef18c7d33c8529969e1a852833c4349cfc38
--- probe ---
typeof window = undefined (undefined in Node => jsbn CSPRNG branch skipped)
typeof globalThis.crypto = object (Node Web Crypto exists but jsbn checks window.crypto, not globalThis.crypto)
Math.random sample = 0.704452488761137
Date.now() = 1784455686795 (attacker-estimable, mixed into ARC4 seed)
===== DETERMINISTIC (Math.random + Date pinned before require sm-crypto) =====
--- run #1 --- PRIVATE=143268fa0939b4da09eab8c9a2e027a04555b6c433fef4f54fc5edd517c0a6b1
--- run #2 --- PRIVATE=143268fa0939b4da09eab8c9a2e027a04555b6c433fef4f54fc5edd517c0a6b1
```
The two deterministic runs produce the **identical** SM2 private key,
demonstrating the key is a pure function of `Math.random()` + wall-clock time.
## Impact
**Private-key recovery / signature forgery of any SM2 keypair generated with
the default API in Node.js.** This is the most serious class of defect for a
maintained SM2 library: the *default* key-generation path is
non-cryptographic on its primary runtime.
- **Private-key recovery.** Any SM2 keypair generated with the default API in
Node is derived from `Math.random()` + wall-clock time. An attacker who can
observe a few `Math.random()` outputs (V8 `xorshift128+` state is
recoverable from ~4 observed doubles) and estimate the generation time can
reproduce the private key and forge signatures.
- **Signing ephemeral reuse / forgery.** The same RNG feeds the ephemeral
scalar `k` during SM2 signing; a predictable `k` leaks the private key from a
single signature (SM2 is EC-Schnorr-like: `s = (k^-1)(e + d·r) mod n`).
- Pre-authentication / no privilege required: anyone who can induce a victim
to generate a key or sign a message (the normal API use) is positioned to
predict the secret material.
### Suggested fix
Seed the RNG from a CSPRNG in Node. The simplest fix in `sm-crypto` is to
replace the jsbn ARC4 instance with Web Crypto / `crypto.randomBytes`:
```js
// src/sm2/utils.js
const nodeCrypto = (typeof require === 'function') ? require('crypto') : null;
function csrandBytes(n) {
if (nodeCrypto) return nodeCrypto.randomBytes(n); // Node
if (globalThis.crypto) { // Web Crypto (browser/Node ≥ 19)
const b = new Uint8Array(n); globalThis.crypto.getRandomValues(b); return b;
}
throw new Error('no CSPRNG available');
}
```
and use it to generate the private key / ephemeral directly, or to reseed the
jsbn pool. A separate (upstream) fix belongs in jsbn to check
`globalThis.crypto` in addition to `window.crypto`.
### Affected versions
- npm `sm-crypto` **0.4.0** (latest, published 2026-01-20). Depends on
`jsbn ^1.1.0` (`jsbn@1.1.0`, whose `index.js` RNG is the root cause).
- Runtime: Node.js (the primary runtime; in a browser the jsbn CSPRNG branch
is taken).
## Credit
Reported by the diff/ambidiff security research effort (afldl).
Advisory Timeline
First published July 24, 2026 (80 days ago).
Last revised August 13, 2026 — 20 days after initial publication.
Remediation
Upgrade to the fixed version using your package manager.
npm
Update sm-crypto to 0.5.0 or later
npm install sm-crypto@0.5.0
After upgrading, run your dependency scanner again to confirm the vulnerability is resolved.
sm-crypto: Predictable SM2 key generation in Node.js: default RNG uses Math.random + wall clock This vulnerability has been assigned a severity rating of CRITICAL (CVSS score: 9.1/10).
How do I check if my project is affected by CVE-2026-73567?
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Severity & Exploitability
CVSS Score
9.1
Exploitation is straightforward and causes maximum impact. Patch immediately.