CVE-2012-5860 in ID-One COSMO
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability on Oberthur ID-One COSMO 5.2, 5.2a, and 64 smart cards makes it easier for attackers to defeat cryptographic protection mechanisms by leveraging the generation of non-compliant public keys.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5860 affects Oberthur ID-One COSMO smart card operating systems version 5.2, 5.2a, and 64, representing a significant weakness in cryptographic security implementation. This unspecified vulnerability specifically targets the key generation mechanisms within these smart card platforms, creating opportunities for attackers to bypass intended cryptographic protections through the creation of non-compliant public keys. The flaw exists at the core cryptographic implementation level where the card's security relies on proper key generation practices to maintain integrity and confidentiality of encrypted data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of public key parameters during the key generation process, allowing attackers to create keys that deviate from established cryptographic standards while still being accepted by the system. This non-compliance enables exploitation of mathematical weaknesses inherent in certain key configurations that would normally be rejected by compliant implementations. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak or broken cryptographic algorithms, and CWE-326, concerning the inadequate encryption strength in cryptographic implementations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform attacks such as small subgroup confinement attacks or other mathematical exploits that become viable when non-standard key parameters are accepted.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability undermines the fundamental security guarantees that smart cards provide in authentication, digital signatures, and encryption scenarios. The ease with which attackers can defeat cryptographic protections means that sensitive data stored on these cards, authentication credentials, and digital signatures may be compromised without detection. The vulnerability affects environments where these smart cards are deployed for secure authentication, identity management, and cryptographic operations, potentially exposing systems to man-in-the-middle attacks, credential theft, and unauthorized access to protected resources. This weakness particularly impacts applications in government, financial services, and enterprise security infrastructures where smart card-based authentication is prevalent.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple key generation flaws to encompass broader cryptographic protocol weaknesses that may exist in the card's implementation. Adversaries can potentially exploit this issue to perform key recovery attacks, forge digital signatures, or decrypt protected communications that should remain secure. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under T1552.004 for unsecured cryptographic keys and T1552.006 for credential access through cryptographic attacks. Organizations should consider implementing compensating controls such as additional protocol-level validation, enhanced monitoring for anomalous key generation patterns, and regular security assessments of cryptographic implementations. Remediation requires updating to patched versions of the COSMO operating system, but organizations must also review their cryptographic implementations and key management practices to ensure comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other cryptographic components.