# CVE-2023-6681: DoS with algorithms that use PBKDF2 due to unbounded PBES2 Count value

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-6681-dos-with-algorithms-that-use-pbkdf2-due-to-unbounded-pbes2-count  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2024-02-12  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2023-6681 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2024-02-12

A vulnerability was found in JWCrypto. This flaw allows an attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) attack and possible password brute-force and dictionary attacks to be more resource-intensive. This issue can result in a large amount of computational consumption, causing a denial of service attack.

Technologies: [jwcrypto (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/jwcrypto). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2023-6681 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2023-6681 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2023-6681?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 12 February 2024.

**Which products and versions are affected?** jwcrypto (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.5.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2023-6681?** Yes. jwcrypto (PyPI): upgrade to 1.5.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**Am I affected by CVE-2023-6681?** Check whether you run jwcrypto (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- jwcrypto (PyPI): upgrade to 1.5.1 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "jwcrypto>=1.5.1"
  ```


## Affected products

- jwcrypto (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.5.1

## Identifiers

- CVE-2023-6681
- GHSA-cw2r-4p82-qv79
- PYSEC-2024-104

## Related threats

- [PYSEC-2026-1484 - JWCrypto vulnerable to JWT bomb Attack in `deserialize` function](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-28102-jwcrypto-vulnerable-to-jwt-bomb-attack-in-deserialize-function)
- [PYSEC-2026-827 - jwcrypto token substitution can lead to authentication bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-3102-jwcrypto-token-substitution-can-lead-to-authentication-bypass)
- [Latchset JWCrypto denial of service via memory exhaustion in JWE decompression](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-39373-latchset-jwcrypto-denial-of-service-via-memory-exhaustion-in-jwe)
- [jwcrypto lacks the Random Filling protection mechanism](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-6298-jwcrypto-lacks-the-random-filling-protection-mechanism)