CVE-2019-3733 in RSA BSAFE Crypto-C Micro Edition
Summary
by MITRE
RSA BSAFE Crypto-C Micro Edition, all versions prior to 4.1.4, is vulnerable to three (3) different Improper Clearing of Heap Memory Before Release vulnerability, also known as 'Heap Inspection vulnerability'. A malicious remote user could potentially exploit this vulnerability to extract information leaving data at risk of exposure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2023
The RSA BSAFE Crypto-C Micro Edition library represents a critical cryptographic component used in embedded systems and IoT devices worldwide, with versions prior to 4.1.4 containing three distinct heap memory clearing vulnerabilities that constitute a significant security risk. These improper clearing flaws fall under the CWE-459 category of "Improper Clearing of Heap Memory Before Release" and specifically manifest as heap inspection vulnerabilities that allow attackers to potentially extract sensitive information from memory locations before they are properly cleared. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices during the deallocation process of cryptographic objects, creating persistent data exposure windows where residual information may remain accessible to unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential attack vectors for adversaries seeking to exploit memory remnants containing cryptographic keys, session data, or other sensitive information. When cryptographic objects are deallocated from heap memory, the improper clearing mechanism fails to adequately overwrite or sanitize the memory regions, leaving behind fragments of previously stored data that could be reconstructed through careful analysis. This memory inspection capability allows malicious actors to potentially recover encryption keys, authentication tokens, or other confidential information that should have been securely destroyed upon object release. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to 4.1.4, indicating a long-standing issue that has remained unaddressed in the affected codebase.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for "Unsecured Credentials" and T1005 for "Data from Local System," as it provides attackers with means to extract sensitive data from memory locations where cryptographic operations have occurred. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries do not require physical access to target systems, enabling attacks from network locations. This vulnerability particularly impacts embedded systems, IoT devices, and resource-constrained environments where RSA BSAFE Crypto-C Micro Edition is commonly deployed, creating widespread potential for exploitation across industrial control systems, medical devices, and communication infrastructure. The attack surface expands significantly when considering that these devices often operate in environments where memory inspection techniques can be effectively employed to recover data from heap regions.
Mitigation strategies must include immediate upgrade to RSA BSAFE Crypto-C Micro Edition version 4.1.4 or later, which addresses the heap clearing vulnerabilities through proper memory sanitization routines. Organizations should implement comprehensive memory management auditing processes to identify and remediate similar issues in other cryptographic libraries and embedded components. The remediation process should involve thorough code review of memory deallocation procedures, implementation of secure memory clearing mechanisms, and regular security assessments of cryptographic implementations. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and implement network-based intrusion detection systems to identify suspicious memory inspection activities that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.