[PATCH] crypto: octeontx2 - use crypto_memneq() to check HMAC for cipher_null authenc

From: David C.C.M. Gall

Date: Sat Aug 15 2026 - 13:08:38 EST


validate_hmac_cipher_null() compares the computed and received HMAC
with memcmp(), which short-circuits on the first differing byte and
leaks tag-match length via timing. Use crypto_memneq() instead.

Because for cipher_null the validated payload is un-encrypted, this
valid prefix leak allows for authenticated message forgery.

Assisted-by: gregkh_clanker_t1000
Signed-off-by: David C.C.M. Gall <david.ccm.gall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
---
drivers/crypto/marvell/octeontx2/otx2_cptvf_algs.c | 7 ++++---
1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/drivers/crypto/marvell/octeontx2/otx2_cptvf_algs.c b/drivers/crypto/marvell/octeontx2/otx2_cptvf_algs.c
index 8d9f394d6b50..3ccf17d031c6 100644
--- a/drivers/crypto/marvell/octeontx2/otx2_cptvf_algs.c
+++ b/drivers/crypto/marvell/octeontx2/otx2_cptvf_algs.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
#include <crypto/xts.h>
#include <crypto/gcm.h>
#include <crypto/scatterwalk.h>
+#include <crypto/utils.h>
#include <linux/sort.h>
#include <linux/module.h>
#include "otx2_cptvf.h"
@@ -90,9 +91,9 @@ static inline int validate_hmac_cipher_null(struct otx2_cpt_req_info *cpt_req)
req = container_of(cpt_req->areq, struct aead_request, base);
tfm = crypto_aead_reqtfm(req);
rctx = aead_request_ctx_dma(req);
- if (memcmp(rctx->fctx.hmac.s.hmac_calc,
- rctx->fctx.hmac.s.hmac_recv,
- crypto_aead_authsize(tfm)) != 0)
+ if (crypto_memneq(rctx->fctx.hmac.s.hmac_calc,
+ rctx->fctx.hmac.s.hmac_recv,
+ crypto_aead_authsize(tfm)))
return -EBADMSG;

return 0;
--
2.43.0