CVE-2023-40271 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2023-40271 affecting Trusted Firmware-M through TF-Mv1.8.0, allowing unauthenticated payloads to be identified as authentic due to a buffer comparison issue.
A detailed look at the CVE-2023-40271 vulnerability affecting Trusted Firmware-M through TF-Mv1.8.0.
Understanding CVE-2023-40271
This CVE affects platforms that integrate the CryptoCell accelerator and use the Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data Chacha20-Poly1305 algorithm in Trusted Firmware-M.
What is CVE-2023-40271?
The vulnerability allows unauthenticated payloads to be identified as authentic due to a buffer comparison issue during the verification of the authentication tag in TF-Mv1.6.0 to TF-Mv1.8 versions.
The Impact of CVE-2023-40271
Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data or unauthorized actions being taken, posing a significant security risk.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-40271
An in-depth look at the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-40271 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
When using the CryptoCell PSA Driver software Interface with the Chacha20-Poly1305 algorithm, the buffer comparison issue occurs during the verification of the authentication tag, potentially allowing unauthenticated payloads to be considered authentic.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability impacts TF-Mv1.6.0, TF-Mv1.6.1, TF-Mv1.7.0, and TF-Mv1.8 versions that integrate the CryptoCell accelerator.
Exploitation Mechanism
By exploiting the buffer comparison issue in the authentication tag verification process, threat actors may pass unauthenticated payloads as authentic, leading to security breaches.
Mitigation and Prevention
Steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-40271 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade to the latest version of Trusted Firmware-M that contains the patch for the buffer comparison issue.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement rigorous security testing and code review processes to catch similar vulnerabilities during the development phase.
Patching and Updates
Regularly check for security updates and patches provided by Trusted Firmware-M to address known vulnerabilities and strengthen the security posture.