CVE-2019-12813 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability was found in version 24 of the Digital Persona U.are.U 4500 Fingerprint Reader where the encryption of the fingerprint image is flawed, exposing the key and salt in plain text.

Understanding CVE-2019-12813

This CVE identifies a security issue in the Digital Persona U.are.U 4500 Fingerprint Reader version 24.

What is CVE-2019-12813?

This vulnerability exposes the key and salt used for encrypting fingerprint images in plain text, making it easy for attackers to decrypt intercepted images.

The Impact of CVE-2019-12813

The exposure of encryption keys and salts can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive fingerprint data, compromising security and privacy.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-12813

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in version 24 of the Digital Persona U.are.U 4500 Fingerprint Reader allows the key and salt used for fingerprint image encryption to be exposed in plain text, facilitating decryption by attackers.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Digital Persona U.are.U 4500 Fingerprint Reader
Version: 24

Exploitation Mechanism

When the fingerprint scanner device sends a fingerprint image to the driver, the key and salt are transmitted in plain text, enabling attackers to intercept and decrypt the image.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the fingerprint reader software to a secure version that addresses this vulnerability.
Implement network encryption to prevent interception of sensitive data.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update security measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Educate users on secure practices when handling sensitive biometric data.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by the vendor to fix the encryption flaw and enhance security measures.