CVE-2020-12400

Description

A side-channel flaw was found in NSS, in the way P-384 and P-521 curves are used in the generation of EDSA signatures, leaking partial information about the ECDSA nonce. Given a small number of ECDSA signatures, this information can be used to steal the private key. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality.

Statement

This is a side-channel attack that can be used to exact pirate keys when ECDSA signatures are being generated. This attack is only feasible when the attacker is local to the machine or in certain cross-VM scenarios where the signature is being generated. Attacks over the network or via the internet are not feasible.

Mitigation

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.

Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details

Info alert:Important note

CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).

CVSS v3 Score Breakdown

Red HatNVDcve.org
Base Score4.44.7N/A
Attack VectorLocalLocalN/A
Attack ComplexityHighHighN/A
Privileges RequiredLowLowN/A
User InteractionRequiredNoneN/A
ScopeUnchangedUnchangedN/A
ConfidentialityHighHighN/A
Integrity ImpactNoneNoneN/A
Availability ImpactNoneNoneN/A

Vector

Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Understanding the Weakness (CWE)

Confidentiality

Technical Impact: Read Application Data

The confidentiality of sensitive data may be compromised by the use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm.

Integrity

Technical Impact: Modify Application Data

The integrity of sensitive data may be compromised by the use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm.

Accountability,Non-Repudiation

Technical Impact: Hide Activities

If the cryptographic algorithm is used to ensure the identity of the source of the data (such as digital signatures), then a broken algorithm will compromise this scheme and the source of the data cannot be proven.

Acknowledgements

Red Hat would like to thank the Mozilla Project for reporting this issue. Upstream acknowledges Cesar Pereida Garcia and the Network and Information Security Group (NISEC) as the original reporter.

Frequently Asked Questions

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