CVE-2019-16863 : Security Advisory and Response

TPM devices produced by STMicroelectronics, specifically the ST33TPHF2ESPI model, were found to have a vulnerability that allows attackers to extract the ECDSA private key using a timing attack on or before September 12, 2019. This vulnerability occurs due to mishandling of ECDSA scalar multiplication and is commonly referred to as TPM-FAIL.

Understanding CVE-2019-16863

TPM-FAIL vulnerability in STMicroelectronics TPM devices.

What is CVE-2019-16863?

CVE-2019-16863 is a vulnerability in STMicroelectronics ST33TPHF2ESPI TPM devices that enables attackers to extract the ECDSA private key through a timing attack.

The Impact of CVE-2019-16863

This vulnerability poses a significant security risk as it allows malicious actors to compromise the security of systems utilizing affected TPM devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-16863

Details regarding the vulnerability and its implications.

Vulnerability Description

STMicroelectronics ST33TPHF2ESPI TPM devices before September 12, 2019, are susceptible to an attack that enables the extraction of the ECDSA private key due to mishandling of ECDSA scalar multiplication.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: STMicroelectronics
Product: ST33TPHF2ESPI
Versions: All versions before September 12, 2019

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit a side-channel timing attack to extract the ECDSA private key from the affected TPM devices.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate the CVE-2019-16863 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update TPM firmware to the latest version provided by STMicroelectronics.
Implement additional security measures to detect and prevent timing attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates from STMicroelectronics.
Conduct security assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities in TPM devices.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates released by STMicroelectronics to address the TPM-FAIL vulnerability.