Horizon Alert
Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters
A vulnerability exists in cryptographic message processing that could allow attackers to compromise message integrity or bypass security measures. This issue affects how certain encrypted data containers are validated, potentially enabling unauthorized access or modification of sensitive information. While the FIPS modules are not impacted, the broad use of the affected technology warrants attention.
- Cryptographic processing allows bypassing message security.
- Confirms relevance and exposure of this technology.
- Understand implications for protected communications.
Attack Path
How an attacker could exploit the issue
Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in how cryptographic messages are processed to compromise sensitive information. By manipulating specific fields within authenticated enveloped data containers, an attacker can potentially gain unauthorized access to encryption keys or bypass message integrity checks. This could allow them to decrypt intercepted communications or tamper with messages without detection.
- No authentication or special access needed.
- Malicious CMS message with altered cipher or tag length.
- Key compromise or integrity bypass is possible.
Live Threat
Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context
This vulnerability could impact the integrity and confidentiality of messages processed by applications using the affected Cryptographic Message Services (CMS) library. Specifically, an attacker could potentially bypass integrity checks or gain key-equivalent functionality for a recipient's cryptographic key under certain conditions, such as when an application provides feedback on decryption success or failure.
- Encrypted message integrity and confidentiality.
- Attacker crafts malicious CMS message.
- Bypass integrity checks or gain key access.
Priority actions
Operational Fix
Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps
This vulnerability in cryptographic message processing impacts applications relying on OpenSSL for secure communication. Ownership will likely fall to application owners and platform teams responsible for the services utilizing CMS functionality. The first practical step is to identify all systems processing CMS data, determine their exposure, and confirm their accountable owners before planning remediation.
- Application and platform teams should own the issue.
- Verify systems processing CMS data and their exposure.
- Plan remediation based on identified risk and ownership.
