CVE-2018-12440 : What You Need to Know

BoringSSL through June 14, 2018, was vulnerable to a memory-cache side-channel attack on DSA signatures, also known as the Return Of the Hidden Number Problem (ROHNP). This CVE allowed attackers to obtain DSA keys with access to the local or a virtual machine on the same physical server.

Understanding CVE-2018-12440

BoringSSL had a security vulnerability that could be exploited through a memory-cache side-channel attack on DSA signatures.

What is CVE-2018-12440?

The vulnerability in BoringSSL allowed for a memory-cache side-channel attack on DSA signatures, enabling attackers to perform the Return Of the Hidden Number Problem (ROHNP) attack.

The Impact of CVE-2018-12440

This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to obtain DSA keys if they had access to the local machine or a separate virtual machine on the same physical server.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-12440

BoringSSL vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in BoringSSL enabled a memory-cache side-channel attack on DSA signatures, facilitating the ROHNP attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by leveraging a memory-cache side-channel attack on DSA signatures, requiring access to the local or a virtual machine on the same physical server.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2018-12440.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update BoringSSL to a patched version to address the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to the local machine and virtual machines to prevent unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms.
Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by BoringSSL to fix the vulnerability and enhance security measures.