CVE-2007-6755 in Bsafe Crypto-c Me Mfp Psos
Summary
by MITRE
The NIST SP 800-90A default statement of the Dual Elliptic Curve Deterministic Random Bit Generation (Dual_EC_DRBG) algorithm contains point Q constants with a possible relationship to certain "skeleton key" values, which might allow context-dependent attackers to defeat cryptographic protection mechanisms by leveraging knowledge of those values. NOTE: this is a preliminary CVE for Dual_EC_DRBG; future research may provide additional details about point Q and associated attacks, and could potentially lead to a RECAST or REJECT of this CVE.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-6755 centers on the NIST SP 800-90A standard's implementation of the Dual Elliptic Curve Deterministic Random Bit Generation algorithm, which represents a critical weakness in cryptographic random number generation. This algorithm was designed to produce deterministic random bit sequences using elliptic curve mathematics, but the specific implementation contained predetermined constants that raised significant security concerns. The issue stems from the mathematical structure of elliptic curve cryptography where the point Q values used in the algorithm's default configuration may have been deliberately constructed with hidden relationships to specific cryptographic keys, creating what cybersecurity experts refer to as "skeleton key" vulnerabilities.
The technical flaw manifests in the mathematical construction of the Dual_EC_DRBG algorithm's parameters, particularly the point Q that serves as a critical component in the random number generation process. When these parameters are chosen in a way that creates a relationship to specific secret values, an attacker who discovers this relationship can potentially predict future random numbers generated by the system. This represents a fundamental breach of cryptographic security principles, as the deterministic nature of the algorithm combined with the hidden mathematical relationship undermines the randomness that cryptographic systems depend upon for security. The vulnerability operates under the CWE-327 weakness category, which specifically addresses the use of insecure or weak cryptographic algorithms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1583.001 related to creating or modifying system processes and T1583.002 for developing capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple cryptographic weakness, as it potentially allows context-dependent attackers to compromise systems that rely on the affected random number generation for security purposes. Systems using the Dual_EC_DRBG algorithm for generating cryptographic keys, session identifiers, initialization vectors, and other security-critical random values become vulnerable to sophisticated attacks where an attacker with knowledge of the hidden relationship can reverse-engineer the random number sequence. This could lead to complete compromise of encrypted communications, forged digital signatures, broken authentication mechanisms, and other critical security failures that affect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems. The vulnerability's potential for exploitation is particularly concerning because it can be leveraged to undermine the security of entire cryptographic ecosystems rather than just individual components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate replacement of the Dual_EC_DRBG algorithm with more secure alternatives that do not contain the problematic mathematical relationships. Organizations should transition to cryptographically secure random number generators that do not rely on elliptic curve mathematics with predetermined constants, such as the Hash_DRBG or HMAC_DRBG algorithms specified in NIST SP 800-90A. The remediation process must include comprehensive review of all systems and applications that may be using the affected algorithm, particularly those in critical infrastructure, financial services, and government sectors. Additionally, security teams should implement continuous monitoring to detect any attempts to leverage the vulnerability, while also conducting thorough security assessments to identify and replace all instances of the problematic implementation across the enterprise. The vulnerability's classification under the broader category of weak cryptographic implementations underscores the importance of adhering to established security standards and avoiding deprecated or compromised cryptographic primitives.