CVE-2022-26083 in IPP Cryptography Software Library
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2025
Generation of weak initialization vector in an Intel(R) IPP Cryptography software library before version 2021.5 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-26083 resides within Intel's Integrated Performance Primitives (IPP) Cryptography software library, specifically affecting versions prior to 2021.5. This issue manifests as a weakness in the initialization vector generation process, representing a critical flaw in the cryptographic implementation that could potentially compromise system security. The vulnerability impacts systems utilizing Intel's IPP cryptography library for encryption operations, particularly those employing cipher modes that rely on initialization vectors for proper operation. The weakness in IV generation creates predictable or insufficiently random sequences that could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to encrypted data.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate entropy sources during the initialization vector creation process within the cryptographic library. When cryptographic algorithms require initialization vectors for proper operation, particularly in modes such as cipher block chaining or counter modes, the quality of these vectors directly impacts security. Weak IV generation can lead to predictable patterns that attackers can exploit to perform statistical analysis or pattern recognition attacks against encrypted data. The vulnerability specifically affects the randomness quality of generated IVs, which violates fundamental cryptographic principles outlined in NIST SP 800-90A and other cryptographic standards. This weakness falls under the broader category of cryptographic implementation flaws classified as CWE-330, which addresses the use of insufficiently random values in cryptographic contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as plaintext recovery or data corruption. An unauthenticated local user with access to the system can leverage this weakness to potentially reconstruct encrypted data or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The local access requirement reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, as local privilege escalation or physical access scenarios can easily provide the necessary conditions for exploitation. Systems running vulnerable versions of Intel IPP cryptography library are particularly at risk when handling sensitive data encryption, as the predictable IV patterns could allow attackers to correlate encrypted data blocks or perform chosen plaintext attacks that compromise the confidentiality of encrypted information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-26083 focus primarily on updating to Intel IPP Cryptography library version 2021.5 or later, which addresses the weak initialization vector generation issue through improved entropy sources and random number generation algorithms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems utilizing vulnerable library versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. The update process should include thorough testing to ensure compatibility with existing applications and avoid unintended disruptions. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual cryptographic operations or patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, implementing proper access controls to limit local user privileges, and maintaining updated security monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior in cryptographic operations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.004, which covers unsecured credentials and weak cryptographic implementations, and represents a specific instance of improper cryptographic key generation that could enable adversaries to compromise encrypted data confidentiality.