CVE-2021-26824 in PD065
Summary
by MITRE • 07/26/2021
DM FingerTool v1.19 in the DM PD065 Secure USB is susceptible to improper authentication by a replay attack, allowing local attackers to bypass user authentication and access all features and data on the USB.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-26824 affects DM FingerTool version 1.19 embedded within the DM PD065 Secure USB device, representing a critical flaw in the authentication mechanism that undermines the security posture of the entire system. This device is designed to provide secure storage and authentication capabilities through fingerprint recognition, yet the implementation contains a fundamental weakness that allows unauthorized access. The vulnerability stems from the device's failure to properly validate authentication tokens, creating an opportunity for attackers to exploit the system through replay attacks that circumvent legitimate user verification processes.
The technical flaw manifests as a weakness in the authentication protocol where the system does not adequately verify the freshness or uniqueness of authentication credentials. When a user presents their fingerprint for authentication, the device generates an authentication token that should be unique to that specific interaction and time frame. However, the implementation allows attackers to capture these tokens through various means and reuse them at a later time to gain access to the device's protected features and data. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues including weak or predictable random numbers, insufficient entropy, and improper validation of authentication tokens. The flaw represents a failure in implementing proper session management and authentication token validation mechanisms that should prevent replay attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides local attackers with complete access to all features and data stored on the USB device without requiring legitimate credentials. Once an attacker captures a valid authentication token, they can bypass all security measures and gain unrestricted access to sensitive information, files, and system functionalities. This creates a significant risk for organizations and individuals who rely on the device for secure data storage and authentication. The vulnerability affects not only the confidentiality of stored data but also the integrity and availability of the system, as attackers can potentially modify or delete information without detection. The local nature of the attack means that physical access to the device is sufficient to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly concerning for environments where device theft or unauthorized physical access is possible.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper authentication token validation mechanisms that include time-based expiration, unique session identifiers, and cryptographic challenges that prevent replay attacks. The device firmware should be updated to ensure that authentication tokens are generated with sufficient entropy and include timestamps or nonce values that make them unique to specific authentication sessions. Security controls should also include monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and implementing rate limiting to prevent automated replay attacks. Organizations should consider implementing additional security layers such as multi-factor authentication or hardware security modules that can provide more robust protection against this type of attack. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper cryptographic implementation and adherence to security standards such as those outlined in the NIST SP 800-57 and ISO/IEC 15408 frameworks that emphasize the need for secure authentication protocols and proper session management to prevent replay attacks and ensure system integrity.