CVE-2017-13096 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 Rights Block to remove or relax access control. 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-2017-13096 represents a critical weakness in the IEEE P1735 standard for protecting electronic design intellectual property through cryptographic means. This standard was designed to provide secure encryption and access control mechanisms for protecting sensitive IP assets in electronic design automation environments. However, the flaw lies in the implementation of cryptographic methods that govern how IP is encrypted and how access rights are managed within the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the Rights Block mechanism which is responsible for enforcing access controls and managing permissions for intellectual property assets. When exploited, this weakness allows attackers to manipulate the Rights Block structure in ways that remove or weaken access restrictions, effectively undermining the entire security framework designed to protect IP assets.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient cryptographic implementation practices that fail to properly secure the encryption mechanisms and access control management components of the P1735 standard. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-310 as Cryptographic Issues, specifically related to weak cryptographic algorithms or improper implementation of cryptographic functions. The flaw enables what security researchers term "plaintext recovery attacks" where unauthorized parties can obtain the complete underlying plaintext IP without possessing the proper cryptographic keys. This represents a fundamental failure in the cryptographic protocol design, as the system should have prevented such unauthorized access regardless of the attacker's position within the network or their level of authorization. The weakness creates multiple attack vectors that can be exploited through various methods including direct manipulation of the Rights Block structure and potential cryptographic analysis of the flawed encryption algorithms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of electronic design environments where IP protection is paramount. Organizations that implement IEEE P1735 standards may find their entire intellectual property portfolio at risk, including proprietary circuit designs, software code, and other valuable assets that form the foundation of their competitive advantage. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate confidentiality of IP assets but also potentially exposes organizations to significant financial losses, competitive disadvantages, and potential legal implications related to IP theft. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive design information that might otherwise be protected by robust cryptographic mechanisms, effectively nullifying the security investment made in IP protection systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate assessment of all systems implementing IEEE P1735 standards and implementation of updated cryptographic protocols that address the specific weaknesses identified in the standard. Organizations should consider migrating to more secure encryption standards that have been vetted through industry consensus and formal cryptographic evaluation processes. The recommended approach includes implementing stronger cryptographic algorithms with proper key management practices, regular security assessments of IP protection systems, and comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, security teams should implement layered defenses that include network segmentation, access control reviews, and regular audits of IP asset protection mechanisms to prevent exploitation of the vulnerability. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, as attackers can effectively bypass access controls and gain unauthorized access to protected IP assets. Organizations should also consider implementing cryptographic validation procedures and regular penetration testing to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other security protocols that may be similarly vulnerable to cryptographic flaws.