CVE-2021-33881 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact of CVE-2021-33881, a vulnerability affecting NXP MIFARE Ultralight and NTAG cards, enabling attackers to bypass Monotonic Counter protection through RFID 'tear off' attacks.
A vulnerability has been identified in NXP MIFARE Ultralight and NTAG cards that allows an attacker to bypass Monotonic Counter protection mechanisms through an RFID 'tear off' attack.
Understanding CVE-2021-33881
This section dives into the details of the CVE-2021-33881 vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-33881?
The vulnerability on NXP MIFARE Ultralight and NTAG cards enables attackers to disrupt a write operation using a 'tear off' attack over RFID, potentially compromising the anti tear-off feature in applications like public transportation and physical access control.
The Impact of CVE-2021-33881
The severity of this vulnerability varies based on the usage of the anti tear-off feature in specific systems. Industries like public transportation and access control could be particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-33881
In this section, we explore the technical aspects of CVE-2021-33881.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in NXP MIFARE Ultralight and NTAG cards allows threat actors to interrupt a write operation through an RFID 'tear-off' attack, potentially undermining Monotonic Counter protection.
Affected Systems and Versions
All versions of both NXP MIFARE Ultralight and NTAG cards are impacted by this vulnerability, leaving systems susceptible to exploitation.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by conducting a 'tear off' attack over RFID to override Monotonic Counter protection mechanisms.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section outlines the steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2021-33881 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
It is crucial to implement immediate measures to safeguard systems against potential attacks leveraging this vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Establishing robust security protocols and ongoing monitoring can enhance the long-term resilience of systems vulnerable to CVE-2021-33881.
Patching and Updates
Regularly updating systems and applying patches from NXP can help address the CVE-2021-33881 vulnerability and strengthen overall security posture.