CVE-2024-0914 identifies a timing side-channel vulnerability in the opencryptoki package version 3.0.0, specifically during the processing of RSA PKCS#1 v1.5 padded ciphertexts. Opencryptoki is an open-source implementation of the PKCS#11 cryptographic token interface, widely used for hardware security modules (HSMs) and software cryptographic operations. The vulnerability arises because the time taken to process certain RSA ciphertexts varies in a way that leaks information about the private key operations. An attacker can exploit this timing discrepancy to perform unauthorized decryption of ciphertexts or forge RSA signatures without direct access to the private key material. The attack complexity is high, requiring precise timing measurements and network access, but no privileges or user interaction are needed. The CVSS vector indicates network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N, A:N). Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to confidentiality in cryptographic operations relying on opencryptoki 3.0.0. The flaw is particularly concerning because RSA PKCS#1 v1.5 padding is still in use in some legacy systems and hardware tokens. The vulnerability underscores the importance of constant-time cryptographic implementations to prevent side-channel leaks.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the potential compromise of confidentiality in cryptographic operations using opencryptoki 3.0.0. This could lead to unauthorized decryption of sensitive data or forging of digital signatures, undermining trust in secure communications, authentication, and data integrity verification. Sectors such as finance, government, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure that rely on hardware security modules or software using opencryptoki for RSA operations are at heightened risk. The vulnerability could facilitate espionage, data breaches, or fraud if exploited. Although the attack complexity is high and no active exploits are known, the risk remains significant due to the sensitive nature of cryptographic keys and operations. The medium CVSS score reflects the balance between the difficulty of exploitation and the high confidentiality impact. Organizations failing to update or mitigate this vulnerability may face regulatory and compliance issues under GDPR and other European cybersecurity frameworks if data confidentiality is compromised.

1. Immediately audit all systems using opencryptoki version 3.0.0 to identify affected components and cryptographic operations relying on RSA PKCS#1 v1.5 padding. 2. Monitor official opencryptoki repositories and vendor advisories for patches or updates addressing CVE-2024-0914 and apply them promptly. 3. Where patching is not immediately possible, consider disabling RSA PKCS#1 v1.5 padding support or migrating to more secure padding schemes such as RSA-PSS if supported. 4. Implement or enforce constant-time cryptographic operations in software and hardware to mitigate timing side-channel leaks. 5. Enhance network monitoring to detect unusual timing analysis attempts or anomalous cryptographic request patterns. 6. Conduct penetration testing and side-channel analysis on critical cryptographic modules to assess exposure. 7. Educate developers and security teams about side-channel risks and secure coding practices for cryptography. 8. Review and strengthen key management policies to limit exposure if keys are compromised. 9. For high-value targets, consider hardware security modules with proven side-channel resistance. 10. Document mitigation steps and incident response plans specific to cryptographic vulnerabilities.