CWE-1240: Use of a Cryptographic Primitive with a Risky Implementation

What is Use of a Cryptographic Primitive with a Risky Implementation?

• Overview: Use of a Cryptographic Primitive with a Risky Implementation occurs when cryptographic algorithms are implemented using non-standard, unproven, or disallowed methods, making them potentially insecure and unreliable.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by breaking the weak cryptographic primitive, allowing unauthorized access to secure data.
• Common attack patterns include brute force attacks on weak keys, exploiting known algorithmic weaknesses, and leveraging side-channel attacks.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences include unauthorized data access, data breaches, and loss of data integrity.
• Potential cascading effects might involve undermining entire security protocols, leading to broader system vulnerabilities.
• Business impact can include financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities due to compromised data.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes involve using standardized, well-vetted cryptographic libraries instead of custom implementations.
• Security best practices include keeping cryptographic libraries updated and following guidelines from reputable sources like NIST or OWASP.
• Recommended tools and frameworks are established cryptographic libraries such as OpenSSL, Bouncy Castle, or libsodium, which are continuously reviewed by security experts.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not Language-Specific

Affected Technologies: System on Chip

Vulnerable Code Example

const crypto = require('crypto');

function riskyHashFunction(data) {
    // Vulnerable code: Using MD5, which is no longer secure for cryptographic purposes.
    // MD5 is vulnerable to collision attacks and is considered insecure for any cryptographic use.
    // It should not be used for hashing sensitive data or for any security-related purposes.
    return crypto.createHash('md5').update(data).digest('hex');
}

How to fix Use of a Cryptographic Primitive with a Risky Implementation?

To address the vulnerability, replace MD5 with a more secure hashing algorithm such as SHA-256. This ensures that the hashing operation is resistant to collision attacks and provides better security for data integrity. Using established and widely accepted cryptographic standards is crucial for maintaining security.

Key fixes include:

1. Replacing MD5 with SHA-256, which is considered secure for hashing.
2. Avoiding deprecated or insecure cryptographic primitives.
3. Ensuring the use of up-to-date libraries and adherence to modern security best practices.

Fixed Code Example

const crypto = require('crypto');

function secureHashFunction(data) {
    // Fixed code: Using SHA-256, a secure cryptographic hash function.
    // SHA-256 provides a higher level of security and is resistant to collision and pre-image attacks.
    // It is widely recommended for cryptographic operations due to its robustness against attacks.
    return crypto.createHash('sha256').update(data).digest('hex');
}

These examples illustrate the importance of using secure cryptographic primitives and adhering to modern security standards to protect against vulnerabilities and ensure data integrity. Properly selecting cryptographic algorithms is essential for maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of data in applications.