CVE-2019-16910 : What You Need to Know

CVE-2019-16910 is a vulnerability found in Arm Mbed TLS and Arm Mbed Crypto versions prior to 2.19.0 and 2.0.0, respectively. The issue is related to the usage of limited randomness in deterministic ECDSA, potentially enabling side-channel attacks.

Understanding CVE-2019-16910

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Arm Mbed TLS and Arm Mbed Crypto versions that could lead to the exposure of private keys through repeated message signing.

What is CVE-2019-16910?

The vulnerability arises from the insufficient source of randomness when deterministic ECDSA is activated, making it possible for attackers to exploit side-channel attacks and potentially retrieve private keys.

The Impact of CVE-2019-16910

The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in the compromise of sensitive information, particularly private keys, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-16910

Arm Mbed TLS and Arm Mbed Crypto versions prior to 2.19.0 and 2.0.0, respectively, are susceptible to this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from the inadequate randomness source in deterministic ECDSA, allowing attackers to conduct side-channel attacks and potentially extract private keys.

Affected Systems and Versions

Arm Mbed TLS versions prior to 2.19.0
Arm Mbed Crypto versions prior to 2.0.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the deterministic ECDSA vulnerability by leveraging side-channel attacks to retrieve private keys when victims repeatedly sign the same message.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2019-16910.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected systems to versions 2.7.12 for Mbed TLS and 2.16.3 for Mbed Crypto to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement additional security measures to protect private keys and sensitive information.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates from Arm Mbed TLS and Arm Mbed Crypto.
Conduct thorough security assessments and audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Arm Mbed TLS and Arm Mbed Crypto promptly to ensure systems are protected against known vulnerabilities.