In 2015, a vulnerability was discovered in SafeNet hardware security modules (HSMs) that allowed bypassing key export restrictions. This vulnerability, designated CVE-2015-5464, affected SafeNet Luna SA, PCI-E, and G5 models[3]. This article will examine the possibility of using such vulnerabilities to extract keys from cryptocurrency wallets such as Bitcoin, and the impact on the mathematical correctness of private keys.
Hardware Security Modules (HSM) and their role
HSMs are specialized devices designed to securely store and process cryptographic keys. They are widely used in financial institutions, certification authorities, and other areas where a high level of data protection is required. HSMs isolate keys from the main system by providing an API for performing cryptographic operations, which significantly increases security[1].
Vulnerability CVE-2015-5464
CVE-2015-5464 allows authenticated users to bypass key export restrictions in SafeNet Luna HSMs. This is accomplished by leveraging crypto-user or crypto-officer access to HSM partitions[3]. While this vulnerability does not allow unauthenticated users to directly extract keys, it can be used to gain access to protected resources.
Ability to extract keys from cryptocurrency wallets
In cryptocurrency wallets such as Bitcoin, private keys are used to manage funds. If a vulnerability in the HSM allows security measures to be bypassed, this could lead to potential extraction of keys. However, this requires access to the HSM and the appropriate permissions, which limits the scope of the attack[3].
Impact on the mathematical correctness of private keys
Private keys in cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, are generated using cryptographic algorithms such as ECDSA. If keys are extracted through vulnerabilities in the HSM, this does not directly affect their mathematical correctness. However, compromising the keys can lead to unauthorized access to funds, which is a serious security issue.
Conclusion
HSM vulnerabilities such as CVE-2015-5464 pose significant risks to the security of cryptographic keys. Although they do not affect the mathematical correctness of the keys, they can lead to their compromise. Therefore, it is important to promptly update the firmware and monitor new vulnerabilities to ensure maximum data protection.
Recommendations
- Regular Updates : Update HSM firmware and software to address known vulnerabilities.
- Access Control : Establish strict access policies for HSMs and cryptographic keys.
- Monitoring : Conduct regular security monitoring to detect potential attacks early.
These measures will help minimize the risks associated with vulnerabilities in HSMs and ensure the security of cryptographic keys in cryptocurrency wallets.
Citations:
[1] https://opennet.ru/50838-hsm
[2] https://www.anti-malware.ru/analytics/Technology_Analysis/HSM-import-substitution
[3] https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2015-5464/
[4] https://systempb.ru/company/our-articles/rossiyskie-platyezhnye-hsm-moduli/
[5] https://www.demos.ru/upload/safenet/protectserver/ProtectServer_3_PTK_%D0%98%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B A%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%20%D1%83%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%B5%201-9_16-32_rus.pdf
[6] https://habr.com/ru/companies/roi4cio/articles/442016/
[7] https://prohoster.info/blog/novosti-interneta/uyazvimosti-v-hsm-modulyah-kotorye-mogut-privesti-k-atake-na-klyuchi-shifrovaniya-2
[8] https://cisoclub.ru/bdu2015-10805/