CVE-2024-0914 in openCryptoki
Summary
by MITRE • 01/31/2024
A timing side-channel vulnerability has been discovered in the opencryptoki package while processing RSA PKCS#1 v1.5 padded ciphertexts. This flaw could potentially enable unauthorized RSA ciphertext decryption or signing, even without access to the corresponding private key.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2026
The timing side-channel vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0914 resides within the opencryptoki cryptographic library implementation, specifically affecting RSA PKCS#1 v1.5 padding operations. This class of vulnerability represents a sophisticated attack vector that exploits the temporal characteristics of cryptographic computations to infer sensitive information. The flaw manifests during the processing of RSA ciphertexts that utilize PKCS#1 v1.5 padding schemes, which are commonly employed in various cryptographic protocols and applications requiring secure key operations. The vulnerability stems from inconsistent processing times when handling different padding structures, creating measurable variations that can be exploited by attackers with sufficient computational resources and access to the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the opencryptoki library's handling of RSA operations where the time required to process valid and invalid padding structures varies predictably. This timing variation occurs because the cryptographic library performs different computational paths based on the validity of the padding, with valid padding structures following a different execution flow than invalid ones. The timing differences, though subtle, accumulate across multiple operations and can be measured with high precision using statistical analysis techniques. This behavior directly maps to CWE-385, which describes timing side channels that can be exploited to extract cryptographic keys or plaintext data. The vulnerability specifically affects the RSA signature verification and decryption processes where PKCS#1 v1.5 padding is applied, creating opportunities for attackers to reconstruct private key components through careful timing measurements.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-0914 extends beyond simple cryptographic compromise, as it potentially enables unauthorized decryption of RSA ciphertexts and forging of digital signatures without possessing the corresponding private key. This capability represents a significant threat to systems relying on RSA-based security mechanisms, particularly those using PKCS#1 v1.5 padding for secure communications, digital signatures, and key exchange protocols. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to decrypt sensitive data, forge authentication tokens, or compromise the integrity of cryptographic operations within applications using the affected opencryptoki library. The vulnerability affects systems where timing measurements can be obtained from the target environment, including cloud deployments, virtualized systems, and networked applications where the attacker has sufficient access to monitor execution timing characteristics. This threat is particularly concerning given that many security protocols depend on the assumption that cryptographic implementations are resistant to timing-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-0914 require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for cryptographic infrastructure. The most effective approach involves updating the opencryptoki package to a version that implements constant-time cryptographic operations, ensuring that all padding validation processes take identical execution time regardless of input validity. Organizations should also consider implementing additional countermeasures such as cryptographic constant-time algorithms, random delays in processing, and hardware-based protections against timing side channels. Security teams must conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected cryptographic libraries and ensure proper patching procedures are followed. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 for the use of system commands and T1566.001 for the use of spearphishing attachments, as attackers may exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to cryptographic resources. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual timing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining proper incident response procedures for cryptographic security breaches. Organizations using cryptographic libraries should regularly review their security posture against side-channel vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and security practices.