CVE-2019-13628 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2019-13628, a vulnerability in wolfSSL and wolfCrypt versions prior to 4.0.0 allowing attackers to deduce nonce information and potentially recover private keys. Find mitigation steps here.
wolfSSL and wolfCrypt versions prior to 4.0.0 have a vulnerability related to timing side channel in ECDSA signature generation, potentially leading to private key retrieval.
Understanding CVE-2019-13628
This CVE involves a timing side channel vulnerability in wolfSSL and wolfCrypt versions prior to 4.0.0, impacting ECDSA signature generation.
What is CVE-2019-13628?
The vulnerability allows an attacker with local access to deduce information about nonces and potentially recover the private key by measuring the time taken for signature operations.
The Impact of CVE-2019-13628
The vulnerability poses a significant security risk as it could lead to the compromise of private keys, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-13628
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises due to a timing side channel in ECDSA signature generation, specifically in the scalar multiplication process in the ecc.c module.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected: wolfSSL and wolfCrypt versions prior to 4.0.0
- Not affected: Versions configured with --enable-fpecc, --enable-sp, or --enable-sp-math
Exploitation Mechanism
- An attacker with local access can measure the time taken for signature operations to deduce nonce information and potentially recover the private key.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2019-13628 is crucial to prevent security breaches.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade wolfSSL and wolfCrypt to version 4.0.0 or later.
- Configure versions with --enable-fpecc, --enable-sp, or --enable-sp-math to mitigate the vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement strict access controls to limit local access to sensitive systems.
- Regularly monitor and analyze system performance to detect unusual activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.
Patching and Updates
- Stay informed about security updates and patches released by wolfSSL and wolfCrypt to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2019-13628.