CVE-2018-16869 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2018-16869, a vulnerability in Nettle cryptographic library allowing attackers to extract plaintext or weaken TLS connections. Understand the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.
Nettle, a cryptographic library, has a vulnerability related to RSA decrypted PKCS#1 v1.5 data conversion, similar to the Bleichenbacher attack. This vulnerability allows attackers to extract plaintext or weaken TLS connections.
Understanding CVE-2018-16869
This CVE involves a cryptographic library vulnerability that can lead to information leakage and potential data extraction.
What is CVE-2018-16869?
The vulnerability in Nettle is related to RSA decrypted PKCS#1 v1.5 data conversion, allowing attackers to exploit side-channel information leakage through a padding oracle.
The Impact of CVE-2018-16869
- Attack Complexity: High
- Attack Vector: Physical
- Base Score: 4.7 (Medium)
- Confidentiality Impact: High
- Privileges Required: High
- Scope: Changed
- Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to plaintext extraction or weakening of TLS connections.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-16869
This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in Nettle allows attackers to exploit side-channel information leakage through a padding oracle, similar to the Bleichenbacher attack.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Nettle
- Vendor: [UNKNOWN]
- Versions: Not applicable
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers with control over a process on the same physical core as the victim process can potentially extract plaintext or weaken TLS connections.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2018-16869 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply patches or updates provided by the vendor.
- Monitor and restrict access to vulnerable systems.
- Implement network segmentation to contain potential attacks.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update cryptographic libraries and software components.
- Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
- Educate users and administrators on secure coding practices.
Patching and Updates
- Check for patches and updates from the vendor regularly.
- Apply security patches promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.