CVE-2024-0553
Description
A vulnerability was found in GnuTLS. The response times to malformed ciphertexts in RSA-PSK ClientKeyExchange differ from the response times of ciphertexts with correct PKCS#1 v1.5 padding. This issue may allow a remote attacker to perform a timing side-channel attack in the RSA-PSK key exchange, potentially leading to the leakage of sensitive data. CVE-2024-0553 is designated as an incomplete resolution for CVE-2023-5981.
Statement
The identified vulnerability in the GnuTLS library, designated as CVE-2024-0553, presents a moderate severity concern due to its potential for facilitating timing side-channel attacks in RSA-PSK ciphersuites. While the flaw allows for the exploitation of timing differentials during the key exchange process, enabling attackers to infer sensitive data, its impact is constrained by several factors. Firstly, successful exploitation requires precise timing measurements and sophisticated analysis techniques, posing a significant barrier to entry for potential attackers. Additionally, the effectiveness of the attack is contingent on environmental factors such as network latency and system load, further limiting its practical feasibility.
This issue marked as an incomplete resolution for a previously identified vulnerability, CVE-2023-5981, indicating a potential persistence or recurrence of the problem.
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 | 7.5 | 7.5 | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Network | Network | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | Low | Low | N/A |
| Privileges Required | None | None | N/A |
| User Interaction | None | None | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | N/A |
| Confidentiality | High | High | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | None | None | N/A |
| Availability Impact | None | None | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality,Access Control
Technical Impact: Read Application Data; Bypass Protection Mechanism
An attacker can gain access to sensitive information about the system, including authentication information that may allow an attacker to gain access to the system. Other security-relevant information about the operation or internal state of the product may be revealed to an unauthorized actor, such as whether a particular operation was successful or not.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Application Data
In some cases, discrepancies can be used by attackers to form a side channel. When cryptographic primitives are vulnerable to side-channel attacks, this could be used to reveal unencrypted plaintext in the worst case.
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