CVE-2026-33306CWE-190

bcrypt-ruby has an Integer Overflow that Causes Zero Key-Strengthening Iterations at Cost=31 on JRuby

Medium · published March 24, 2026

CVSS v4.0
4.5
EPSS
0%
Percentile
18.3
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

bcrypt-ruby is a Ruby binding for the OpenBSD bcrypt() password hashing algorithm. Prior to version 3.1.22, an integer overflow in the Java BCrypt implementation for JRuby can cause zero iterations in the strengthening loop. Impacted applications must be setting the cost to 31 to see this happen. The JRuby implementation of bcrypt-ruby (`BCrypt.java`) computes the key-strengthening round count as a signed 32-bit integer. When `cost=31` (the maximum allowed by the gem), signed integer overflow causes the round count to become negative, and the strengthening loop executes **zero iterations**. This collapses bcrypt from 2^31 rounds of exponential key-strengthening to effectively constant-time computation — only the initial EksBlowfish key setup and final 64x encryption phase remain. The resulting hash looks valid (`$2a$31$...`) and verifies correctly via `checkpw`, making the weakness invisible to the application. This issue is triggered only when cost=31 is used or when verifying a `$2a$31$` hash. This problem has been fixed in version 3.1.22. As a workaround, set the cost to something less than 31.

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v4.0
4.5 · MEDIUM
Vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U
EPSS
0.00271 · 18.3th percentile
Weakness
CWE-190 · Integer Overflow or Wraparound
Published
2026-03-24T00:08Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 24 MAR 00:08Z
    bcrypt-ruby has an Integer Overflow that Causes Zero Key-Strengthening Iterations at Cost=31 on JRuby
    cvelistv5