CVE-2024-42460 identifies a cryptographic vulnerability in the Elliptic package version 6.5.6 for Node.js, specifically related to ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm) signature malleability. The issue arises because the package fails to verify whether the leading bit of the signature components r and s is zero, which is a critical check to prevent malleability. Signature malleability allows an attacker to produce different signatures that are still valid for the same message, potentially enabling replay attacks, signature substitution, or undermining systems that rely on unique signatures for transaction or message validation. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-130 (Improper Handling of Length Parameter Inconsistency) and has a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.3, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality slightly (C:L) but not integrity or availability. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the widespread use of the Elliptic package in Node.js applications—especially in blockchain, cryptocurrency wallets, and secure communication protocols—makes this vulnerability significant. The lack of a patch link indicates that a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for vigilance and interim mitigation strategies.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-42460 lies in the potential undermining of cryptographic signature integrity. Applications relying on the Elliptic package for ECDSA signatures—common in blockchain platforms, digital identity verification, and secure communications—may be vulnerable to signature malleability attacks. This can lead to transaction replay, unauthorized signature substitution, or bypassing of signature-based authentication mechanisms. Although confidentiality and availability are not directly affected, the integrity compromise can erode trust in digital signatures, potentially causing financial losses, regulatory compliance issues, and reputational damage. Organizations in fintech, government digital services, and critical infrastructure sectors are particularly at risk. The medium severity score reflects the moderate but non-trivial risk, especially in environments where signature uniqueness is critical for security and auditability.

1. Monitor the Elliptic package repository and Node.js security advisories for official patches addressing CVE-2024-42460 and apply updates promptly once available. 2. Until a patch is released, implement manual validation of ECDSA signatures by checking that the leading bits of r and s are not zero, ensuring signature uniqueness and preventing malleability. 3. Review and audit all cryptographic operations in your Node.js applications that utilize the Elliptic package to identify exposure. 4. Where feasible, consider migrating to alternative cryptographic libraries with robust signature validation and active maintenance. 5. Employ cryptographic best practices such as using deterministic ECDSA signatures (RFC 6979) to reduce malleability risks. 6. Enhance monitoring and logging around signature verification failures or anomalies to detect potential exploitation attempts. 7. Educate development teams about the risks of signature malleability and the importance of strict signature validation.