CVE-2019-11840 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability has been discovered in additional cryptographic libraries for the Go programming language, specifically golang-googlecode-go-crypto, prior to 2019-03-20. The issue affects the implementation of golang.org/x/crypto/salsa20 and golang.org/x/crypto/salsa20/salsa on the amd64 architecture, potentially compromising encrypted data confidentiality.

Understanding CVE-2019-11840

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in cryptographic libraries for the Go programming language that can lead to incorrect output generation and potential data confidentiality compromise.

What is CVE-2019-11840?

The vulnerability arises in the implementation of golang.org/x/crypto/salsa20 and golang.org/x/crypto/salsa20/salsa on the amd64 architecture when certain thresholds are exceeded, leading to the repetition of keystream bytes.

The Impact of CVE-2019-11840

The repetition of keystream bytes can compromise the confidentiality of encrypted data or introduce predictability in applications utilizing cryptographically secure pseudorandom number generators (CSPRNG).

Technical Details of CVE-2019-11840

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability occurs in the implementation of golang.org/x/crypto/salsa20 and golang.org/x/crypto/salsa20/salsa on the amd64 architecture, causing incorrect output generation when specific thresholds are surpassed.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Versions: Prior to 2019-03-20

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited when the amount of keystream generated exceeds 256 GiB or when the counter surpasses 32 bits, leading to incorrect output and repetition of previously generated keystream.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-11840 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected systems to versions released after 2019-03-20.
Monitor for any unusual activities that might indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update cryptographic libraries and dependencies to ensure the latest security patches are applied.
Implement strong encryption practices and key management protocols to enhance data security.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Stay informed about security advisories and updates related to cryptographic libraries.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems using the affected cryptographic libraries are patched with the latest updates to mitigate the vulnerability.