CVE-2021-3011 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An electromagnetic-wave side-channel issue was discovered on NXP SmartMX / P5x security microcontrollers and A7x secure authentication microcontrollers, with CryptoLib through v2.9. It allows attackers to extract the ECDSA private key after extensive physical access. The vulnerability impacts Google Titan Security Key, other FIDO U2F security keys (Yubico YubiKey Neo, Feitian K9, K13, K21, and K40), and several NXP JavaCard smartcards.

Understanding CVE-2021-3011

This section provides an insight into the critical vulnerability affecting various security keys and smartcards.

What is CVE-2021-3011?

CVE-2021-3011 is an electromagnetic-wave side-channel vulnerability present in NXP SmartMX, P5x security microcontrollers, A7x secure authentication microcontrollers, impacting several security keys and smartcards.

The Impact of CVE-2021-3011

The vulnerability allows attackers to extract the ECDSA private key after gaining extensive physical access. Attackers can then produce a clone, risking the security of affected devices like Google Titan Security Key and other FIDO U2F security keys and NXP JavaCard smartcards.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-3011

In this section, the technical aspects of the vulnerability are discussed.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an electromagnetic-wave side-channel issue in NXP microcontrollers, enabling the extraction of ECDSA private keys post physical access.

Affected Systems and Versions

NXP SmartMX, P5x security microcontrollers, A7x secure authentication microcontrollers, Google Titan Security Key, Yubico YubiKey Neo, Feitian K9, K13, K21, K40, and several NXP JavaCard smartcards are affected up to CryptoLib v2.9.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability to extract ECDSA private keys and potentially create a clone of the security key or smartcard.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section covers the essential steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-3011.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement physical security measures to restrict unauthorized access to the affected devices. Consider replacing vulnerable security keys and smartcards with updated versions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software, conduct security assessments, and monitor for any suspicious activities on the devices.

Patching and Updates

Keep devices up to date with the latest security patches and firmware releases to address the CVE-2021-3011 vulnerability.