CVE-2025-46672 in CryptoLib
Summary
by MITRE • 04/27/2025
NASA CryptoLib before 1.3.2 does not check the OTAR crypto function returned status, potentially leading to spacecraft hijacking.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-46672 affects NASA CryptoLib versions prior to 1.3.2 and represents a critical security flaw in cryptographic operations that could enable unauthorized access to spacecraft systems. This issue specifically concerns the OTAR (Onboard Telemetry and Reporting) crypto function implementation within the cryptographic library, where the system fails to properly validate the return status from cryptographic operations. The absence of proper status checking creates a scenario where malicious actors could potentially manipulate or bypass cryptographic protections, leading to unauthorized control of spacecraft systems.
The technical flaw resides in the cryptographic library's failure to implement proper error handling and validation mechanisms for OTAR crypto functions. When cryptographic operations are executed within the spacecraft's onboard systems, the library should verify that these operations complete successfully and return appropriate status codes indicating successful execution. However, in versions before 1.3.2, the system proceeds with operations regardless of whether cryptographic functions complete successfully or encounter errors. This oversight creates a dangerous condition where corrupted or tampered cryptographic data could be processed as legitimate, effectively undermining the entire security framework designed to protect spacecraft communications and control systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for space missions. Spacecraft systems rely heavily on cryptographic protections to ensure the integrity and authenticity of commands, telemetry data, and communication protocols. When the OTAR crypto function status is not properly checked, it becomes possible for adversaries to inject malicious commands or manipulate system parameters without detection. This could result in complete system compromise where unauthorized parties gain control over critical spacecraft functions including attitude control, trajectory adjustments, and payload operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-252, which addresses "Unchecked Return Value" in security contexts, and represents a significant deviation from established security practices in critical infrastructure systems.
The potential for spacecraft hijacking through this vulnerability demonstrates the critical nature of proper cryptographic implementation in space systems where traditional ground-based security measures may be insufficient. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious inputs that cause cryptographic functions to return error codes while the system continues processing, effectively creating a backdoor for unauthorized access. This scenario particularly threatens mission-critical operations where spacecraft are often operated remotely and may be in environments where immediate intervention is not possible. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers "Phishing" and related social engineering attacks, as the compromised system could be used to launch further attacks on ground stations or other connected systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper status checking mechanisms within the NASA CryptoLib. Organizations must upgrade to version 1.3.2 or later where the OTAR crypto function return status is properly validated. Additionally, system administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring and logging of cryptographic operations to detect anomalous behavior patterns. The fix should include mandatory validation of all cryptographic function return codes with appropriate error handling and system alerts when unexpected status values are encountered. Regular security assessments of onboard cryptographic systems should be conducted to ensure similar vulnerabilities are not present in other components of the spacecraft's security infrastructure. Implementation of defense-in-depth strategies including redundant authentication mechanisms and real-time anomaly detection systems will further strengthen protection against exploitation of this class of vulnerability.