Description

A weakness has been identified in pkp pkp-lib 3.3.0/3.4.0/3.5.0. This vulnerability affects the function setData of the file classes/user/form/APIProfileForm.php of the component API Key Generation. Executing a manipulation of the argument apiKey can lead to insufficient entropy. The attack may be performed from remote. This attack is characterized by high complexity. It is stated that the exploitability is difficult. This patch is called 529b5df878e571ccc727647f7748eafc1466b041. It is best practice to apply a patch to resolve this issue.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "3.7",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-15T19:16:32.470Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-15T19:16:32.470Z",
  "executiveSummary": "An insufficient entropy vulnerability has been identified within pkp pkp-lib versions 3.3.0, 3.4.0, and 3.5.0, specifically residing in the API Key Generation component. The weakness originates within the setData function of the classes/user/form/APIProfileForm.php file when handling the apiKey argument.\nThis cryptographic weakness can allow a remote attacker to compromise the unpredictability of generated cryptographic tokens or keys. While the attack vector is remote, exploitation is characterized by high complexity and difficulty, requiring specific conditions to successfully manipulate the input parameters or predict output values.\nThe primary risk associated with this vulnerability is the potential predictability of generated API keys, which could lead to unauthorized access, privilege escalation, or session hijacking depending on how the generated keys are utilized across the affected platform. Systems utilizing the default API key generation workflow in vulnerable pkp-lib versions are exposed to this risk.\nOrganizations deploying the affected software must apply the official security patch provided in commit 529b5df878e571ccc727647f7748eafc1466b041 to resolve the underlying entropy generation flaw.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is localized to the classes/user/form/APIProfileForm.php file within pkp pkp-lib, specifically affecting the setData function utilized during the API Key Generation component's lifecycle. The root cause stems from insufficient entropy during the generation or processing of the apiKey argument, failing to ensure cryptographically secure pseudo-random number generation (CSPRNG) or adequate randomness in value derivation.\nFrom an attack flow perspective, a remote adversary interacting with the application's API profile configuration interface attempts to manipulate or influence the apiKey parameter handled by the setData function. Because the underlying mechanism lacks sufficient cryptographic entropy, the resulting keys may exhibit predictable patterns, reduced keyspace, or deterministic generation states.\nAlthough the attack is executed remotely, exploitation requires high complexity and is rated as difficult. This typically implies that an attacker must expend significant computational resources, possess deep insight into the internal state or seeding mechanism of the application, or repeatedly observe generated outputs to successfully guess or brute-force subsequent keys.\nAffected versions include pkp pkp-lib 3.3.0, 3.4.0, and 3.5.0. Authentication and privilege requirements depend on the standard access controls enforced around the API profile configuration form, though successful exploitation yields weak API keys that subvert authentication boundaries once obtained.\nThe post-exploitation impact includes the potential unauthorized acquisition of valid API keys. An attacker leveraging predictable keys can authenticate as legitimate users or administrators, bypass API-level security controls, access sensitive backend functionality, or exfiltrate restricted data stored within the platform."
}