CVE-2023-46233
Description
A vulnerability was found in crypto-js in how PBKDF2 is 1,000 times weaker than originally specified in 1993 and at least 1,300,000 times weaker than the current industry standard. This issue is because both default to SHA1, a cryptographic hash algorithm considered insecure since at least 2005, and default to one single iteration, a 'strength' or 'difficulty' value specified at 1,000 when specified in 1993. PBKDF2 relies on the iteration count as a countermeasure to preimage and collision attacks.
Statement
The vulnerability in crypto-js's PBKDF2 implementation represents a important CVE issue due to its fundamental impact on cryptographic security. PBKDF2 is widely used for password protection and signature generation, making it a core component of many security-critical systems. However, the default settings in crypto-js result in significantly weaker security than industry standards, with the algorithm being 1,000 times weaker than originally specified in 1993 and millions of times weaker than current recommendations. This weakness stems from the use of the insecure SHA1 hash algorithm and the default of only one iteration, both of which greatly diminish the resistance against various attacks. Consequently, attackers can exploit this vulnerability to create identical cryptographic signatures, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information or compromising system integrity. Given the widespread use of crypto-js and the important role of PBKDF2 in cryptographic operations, addressing this vulnerability is paramount to safeguarding against security breaches and maintaining trust in digital systems.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't 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 Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| Attack Vector | Network | Network | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | Low | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | None | None |
| User Interaction | None | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | High | High |
| Integrity Impact | High | High | High |
| Availability Impact | None | None | None |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Access Control
Technical Impact: Bypass Protection Mechanism; Gain Privileges or Assume Identity
If an attacker can gain access to the hashes, then the lack of sufficient computational effort will make it easier to conduct brute force attacks using techniques such as rainbow tables, or specialized hardware such as GPUs, which can be much faster than general-purpose CPUs for computing hashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
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