Recently the open source Matrix messenger protocol published security warnings on its platform about two critical-severity vulnerabilities that affect the end-to-end encryption in the software development kit (SDK). 

As per the warning statement, the groups of malicious actors are exploiting these vulnerabilities that could break the confidentiality of Matrix communications. The vulnerabilities also allow the threat actors to run man-in-the-middle attacks that expose message contents in a readable form. 

According to the technical data, the users who were using the matrix-js-sdk, matrix-android-sdk2, and matrix-ios-sdk, like Element, Cinny, SchildiChat, Beeper, Circuli, and Synod.im have been hit by the bugs. However, the platform clarified that clients using a different encryption implementation such as Hydrogen, Nheko, ElementX, FluffyChat, Timmy, Syphon, Gomuks, Pantalaimon) are safe from the attacks. 

The vulnerabilities were reported to Matrix by the researchers of Brave Software, the University of Sheffield, and the Royal Holloway University in London. The group published the technical details of the research findings. 

 

The same flaw makes it possible for malicious home server admins to add backup keys to the target's account. 

Furthermore, the report detailing listed two problems that are yet to receive an identification number. One of these problems allows malicious actors access to the home server and the second refers to using AES-CTR.