CVE-2017-13095 in P1735
Summary
by MITRE
The P1735 IEEE standard describes flawed methods for encrypting electronic-design intellectual property (IP), as well as the management of access rights for such IP, including modification of a license-deny response to a license grant. The methods are flawed and, in the most egregious cases, enable attack vectors that allow recovery of the entire underlying plaintext IP. Implementations of IEEE P1735 may be weak to cryptographic attacks that allow an attacker to obtain plaintext intellectual property without the key, among other impacts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-13095 represents a critical flaw in the IEEE P1735 standard for protecting electronic-design intellectual property through cryptographic means. This standard was designed to secure IP assets during the design and manufacturing processes, particularly in semiconductor and integrated circuit development where intellectual property protection is paramount. The flaw lies in the cryptographic implementation methods that govern how IP is encrypted and how access rights are managed, creating fundamental weaknesses that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically impacts the license management protocols where the system's response to license denial can be manipulated to effectively grant access, undermining the entire access control mechanism. This represents a severe failure in the cryptographic protocol design as it allows for the complete recovery of plaintext intellectual property without possessing the required cryptographic keys, fundamentally compromising the security model that was intended to protect valuable IP assets.
The technical implementation issues stem from weaknesses in the cryptographic algorithms and protocol design that govern how electronic-design IP is protected throughout its lifecycle. The flaw enables what security researchers categorize as a cryptographic weakness that can be exploited through techniques such as key recovery attacks or protocol manipulation. When implemented in real-world systems, these vulnerabilities create attack vectors that can be leveraged to bypass access controls and recover sensitive design information that should remain protected. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects the core cryptographic mechanisms used to secure IP during design phases, potentially allowing unauthorized access to proprietary circuit designs, software implementations, and other valuable intellectual property that forms the foundation of modern electronic products. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft to potentially compromising entire product development strategies and competitive advantages in the semiconductor industry.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13095 is severe and far-reaching for organizations that rely on IEEE P1735 implementations for IP protection. Companies investing millions in electronic design automation tools and IP development processes face the risk of complete intellectual property theft, which can result in significant financial losses and competitive disadvantages. The vulnerability can be exploited to recover entire design schematics, circuit implementations, and software code without requiring legitimate access credentials or cryptographic keys. This compromises not only the immediate IP assets but also potentially exposes the underlying design methodologies and proprietary techniques that give organizations their competitive edge. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and defense evasion domains, as attackers can bypass authentication mechanisms and manipulate system responses to gain unauthorized access to protected information. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-310, which covers cryptographic weaknesses, and CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms.
Organizations implementing IEEE P1735 standards should immediately conduct comprehensive security assessments of their IP protection systems and consider replacing vulnerable implementations with more robust cryptographic solutions. The recommended mitigations include implementing additional authentication layers, strengthening key management protocols, and potentially migrating to more secure industry standards for IP protection. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts and implement network segmentation to limit the impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper cryptographic protocol design and the necessity of thorough security reviews before deploying IP protection systems. Organizations should also consider adopting more modern cryptographic standards that have been subjected to extensive peer review and testing, as the IEEE P1735 standard's cryptographic weaknesses represent a fundamental design flaw that cannot be adequately patched without complete reimplementation. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to ensure that IP protection mechanisms remain effective against evolving attack techniques and that all system components maintain appropriate security postures.