CVE-2012-2130 in PolarSSL
Summary
by MITRE
A Security Bypass vulnerability exists in PolarSSL 0.99pre4 through 1.1.1 due to a weak encryption error when generating Diffie-Hellman values and RSA keys.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2130 represents a critical security bypass issue within the PolarSSL cryptographic library version 0.99pre4 through 1.1.1. This flaw stems from insufficient entropy and weak random number generation during the creation of cryptographic keys, specifically affecting Diffie-Hellman key exchanges and RSA key generation processes. The vulnerability operates at the fundamental level of cryptographic security where proper randomization is essential for maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of encrypted communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through predictable or insufficiently random number generation during cryptographic key creation. When PolarSSL generates Diffie-Hellman parameters or RSA keys, the underlying random number generator fails to produce sufficiently unpredictable values, creating patterns that can be exploited by attackers. This weakness directly violates the cryptographic principle that key generation must rely on high-quality random number sources to prevent attackers from reconstructing private keys or predicting session parameters. The vulnerability falls under the category of weak random number generation as classified by CWE-330, which specifically addresses the use of insufficiently random values in security-critical applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple encryption failures to encompass complete compromise of secure communications. An attacker who can predict or reproduce the random values used in cryptographic operations can potentially decrypt communications, impersonate legitimate parties, or break authentication mechanisms that rely on these cryptographic foundations. This vulnerability particularly affects systems using PolarSSL for TLS/SSL implementations, where the compromised keys could be used to decrypt previously captured network traffic or to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against established secure connections. The weakness creates a persistent risk that remains viable even after the initial attack window has passed, as compromised keys can be reused for future decryption attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2130 require immediate attention to update affected PolarSSL implementations to versions that address the weak random number generation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive key rotation procedures for any systems known to use vulnerable versions of the library, particularly focusing on replacing RSA and Diffie-Hellman keys that may have been generated using the affected versions. The remediation process should include thorough inventory checks to identify all systems utilizing PolarSSL, followed by deployment of patched versions that incorporate proper random number generation mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for potential exploitation attempts and establish procedures for rapid response to any detected compromises. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper random number generation in cryptographic implementations and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.004 for credential access through weak cryptographic implementations.