CVE-2019-19962 in wolfSSL
Summary
by MITRE
wolfSSL before 4.3.0 mishandles calls to wc_SignatureGenerateHash, leading to fault injection in RSA cryptography.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-19962 affects wolfSSL versions prior to 4.3.0 and represents a critical flaw in the cryptographic signature generation process specifically within the wc_SignatureGenerateHash function. This issue stems from improper handling of cryptographic operations that can result in fault injection attacks, fundamentally compromising the integrity of RSA cryptographic implementations. The flaw manifests when the library fails to properly validate or process hash values during signature generation, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to manipulate cryptographic operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the wolfSSL cryptographic library's approach to RSA signature generation where the wc_SignatureGenerateHash function does not adequately protect against fault injection scenarios. This weakness allows attackers to potentially manipulate the cryptographic processing pipeline by introducing faults during hash computation or signature generation phases. The vulnerability specifically impacts RSA cryptography implementations within the wolfSSL library, creating opportunities for adversaries to exploit the faulty handling of cryptographic operations and potentially compromise digital signatures. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in cryptographic implementation where improper error handling and validation lead to potential fault injection attacks that can undermine the security properties of the cryptographic system.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-19962 extends beyond simple cryptographic failures to encompass potential system compromise and data integrity breaches. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially forge digital signatures, manipulate authenticated communications, or break the trust model that cryptographic signatures are designed to maintain. The fault injection capability creates opportunities for side-channel attacks where malicious actors might exploit the improper handling of cryptographic operations to extract sensitive information or manipulate the signature generation process. This vulnerability particularly affects systems relying on wolfSSL for secure communications, certificate management, or digital signature validation where the integrity of RSA cryptographic operations is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-19962 require immediate deployment of wolfSSL version 4.3.0 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper handling of cryptographic operations in the wc_SignatureGenerateHash function. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected wolfSSL versions and implement patch management procedures to ensure timely updates. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated libraries to verify that cryptographic operations function correctly without introducing regressions. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, particularly in environments where wolfSSL is used for critical cryptographic operations. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving cryptographic attack and credential access, requiring defensive measures that include proper patch management, monitoring for anomalous cryptographic behavior, and maintaining updated security controls to prevent exploitation attempts that could lead to unauthorized access or data manipulation.