ntp: automatic generation of weak default key in config_auth()
Published Dec 20, 2014
7.5
HIGHCVSS 2.0
EPSS 12.98%
Description
The config_auth function in ntpd in NTP before 4.2.7p11, when an auth key is not configured, improperly generates a key, which makes it easier for remote attackers to defeat cryptographic protection mechanisms via a brute-force attack.
Affected products
No data.
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
ntp-0:4.2.2p1-18.el5_11
Fixed · RHSA-2014:2025
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
ntp-0:4.2.6p5-2.el6_6
Fixed · RHSA-2014:2024
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5 Extended Update Support
ntp-0:4.2.6p5-2.el6_5
Fixed · RHSA-2015:0104
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
ntp-0:4.2.6p5-19.el7_0
Fixed · RHSA-2014:2024
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | ntp-0:4.2.2p1-18.el5_11 | Fixed | RHSA-2014:2025 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | ntp-0:4.2.6p5-2.el6_6 | Fixed | RHSA-2014:2024 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5 Extended Update Support | ntp-0:4.2.6p5-2.el6_5 | Fixed | RHSA-2015:0104 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | ntp-0:4.2.6p5-19.el7_0 | Fixed | RHSA-2014:2024 |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat mitigation
Issue these commands to explicitly generate a strong key and add it to the ntpd configuration: echo trustedkey 65535 >> /etc/ntp.conf printf "65535\tM\t%s\n" $(tr -cd a-zA-Z0-9 < /dev/urandom | head -c 16) >> /etc/ntp/keys The generated key has about 95 bits of entropy.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (17 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 12.98% (0.12978) | 96.21th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 12.98% (0.12978) | 95.81th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Dec 28, 2025 | 33.27% (0.33271) | 96.75th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 27, 2025 | 31.97% (0.31970) | 96.68th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 13, 2025 | 33.27% (0.33271) | 96.74th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 10, 2025 | 31.97% (0.31970) | 96.64th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 13, 2025 | 43.52% (0.43522) | 97.34th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 37.02% (0.37023) | 96.84th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 56.37% (0.56372) | 97.26th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 28, 2025 | 37.02% (0.37023) | 96.83th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 41.85% (0.41850) | 97.11th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 3.79% (0.03792) | 92.20th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Apr 24, 2023 | 4.44% (0.04435) | 91.16th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 4.50% (0.04503) | 91.17th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 4.36% (0.04358) | 88.02th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 4.36% (0.04358) | 86.83th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 4.36% (0.04358) | 70.59th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (26)
- http://advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2014-0541.html x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://bk1.ntp.org/ntp-dev/ntpd/ntp_config.c?PAGE=diffs&REV=4b6089c5KXhXqZqocF0DMXnQQsjOuw x_refsource_CONFIRMExploit
- http://bugs.ntp.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2665 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142469153211996&w=2 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_HP
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142590659431171&w=2 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_HP
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142853370924302&w=2 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_HP
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=144182594518755&w=2 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_HP
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-2025.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHAT
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0104.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHAT
- http://secunia.com/advisories/62209 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIA
- http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/SecurityNotice x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory
- http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/SecurityNotice#Weak_default_key_in_config_auth
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/852879 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_CERT-VNThird Party AdvisoryUS Government Resource
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2015:003 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_MANDRIVA
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/71757 vdb-entryx_refsource_BID
- https://access.redhat.com/articles/1305723
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2014-9293 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1176032 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking
- https://h20564.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c04790232 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://h20564.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c04916783 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10103 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-9293
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20141222-ntpd vendor-advisoryx_refsource_CISCO
- https://www.arista.com/en/support/advisories-notices/security-advisories/1047-security-advisory-8 x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-9293
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.