CVE-2018-14062 in Protocol
Summary
by MITRE
The COSPAS-SARSAT protocol allows remote attackers to forge messages, replay encrypted messages, conduct denial of service attacks, and send private messages (unrelated to distress alerts) via a crafted 406 MHz digital signal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2023
The COSPAS-SARSAT protocol represents a critical vulnerability in global satellite-based emergency alerting systems that has significant implications for maritime and aviation safety operations. This vulnerability exists within the 406 MHz digital signal transmission framework that serves as the backbone for distress alert communications worldwide. The protocol's design flaws allow adversaries to manipulate the system through crafted digital signals that can bypass legitimate authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically affects the message integrity verification processes that should ensure only authorized distress signals are processed and transmitted to rescue coordination centers. Attackers can exploit this weakness to create false emergency situations that may divert critical resources from actual emergencies while simultaneously undermining the trustworthiness of the entire alerting infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient cryptographic validation and message authentication mechanisms within the COSPAS-SARSAT system architecture. The protocol fails to adequately verify the authenticity of incoming signals, allowing malicious actors to craft and transmit signals that appear legitimate to the receiving systems. This flaw operates at the physical layer of communication where 406 MHz signals are processed, enabling attackers to manipulate both the content and timing of transmitted messages. The vulnerability permits the forging of messages that can appear to originate from legitimate distress beacons, making detection extremely difficult for rescue coordination centers. Additionally, the system lacks proper replay detection mechanisms, allowing attackers to reuse previously captured encrypted messages to create false emergency scenarios. The protocol's architecture does not implement robust key management or session validation processes that would normally prevent unauthorized message creation or modification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple message manipulation, creating substantial risks for emergency response systems that rely on accurate distress alert information. When attackers can forge messages or replay encrypted communications, they can generate false alarms that consume valuable rescue resources and potentially delay responses to genuine emergencies. The denial of service component of this vulnerability can overwhelm rescue coordination centers with false alerts, reducing their ability to respond effectively to actual distress situations. The ability to send private messages unrelated to distress alerts creates additional risks for operational security and privacy concerns, as unauthorized parties can potentially intercept or manipulate communications that should remain confidential. This vulnerability directly impacts the reliability of emergency response systems and can lead to loss of life when genuine distress signals are either ignored or delayed due to the overwhelming presence of false alerts. The vulnerability affects both maritime and aviation sectors that depend on the COSPAS-SARSAT system for search and rescue operations, creating cascading effects across multiple safety domains.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gaps and the broader architectural weaknesses within the COSPAS-SARSAT protocol implementation. Organizations should implement enhanced message authentication mechanisms that validate signal origins through cryptographic signatures or other secure verification methods before processing any distress alerts. The system should incorporate replay detection capabilities that track message timestamps and sequence numbers to identify and reject duplicate or previously transmitted signals. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous signal patterns that may indicate malicious activity or unauthorized message manipulation. Regular security assessments of the COSPAS-SARSAT infrastructure should include testing for message forgery capabilities and verification of authentication mechanisms. System administrators must ensure proper key management practices are implemented to prevent unauthorized access to cryptographic materials that could enable message forgery. The implementation of redundant verification systems and manual override capabilities can provide additional layers of protection against malicious signal manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing automated alert triage systems that can quickly identify and filter out potentially forged signals based on established behavioral patterns and signal characteristics. These mitigation measures align with cybersecurity frameworks such as those recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and should be integrated with existing emergency response protocols to maintain system integrity and operational effectiveness.
This vulnerability maps to several cybersecurity standards and threat categories including CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues, and represents a significant concern for the ATT&CK framework's defense evasion and privilege escalation categories. The ability to forge messages and conduct denial of service attacks through physical layer manipulation demonstrates the intersection of cybersecurity and physical security concerns, making this vulnerability particularly challenging to address within traditional security frameworks. The widespread deployment of COSPAS-SARSAT systems globally means that this vulnerability affects critical infrastructure that requires coordinated international response and mitigation efforts.