CVE-2024-45619 is a classic buffer overflow vulnerability identified in OpenSC and its related components including OpenSC tools, the PKCS#11 module, minidriver, and CTK. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of buffer sizes when processing Application Protocol Data Units (APDUs) responses from USB devices or smart cards. Specifically, when buffers are only partially filled with data, the initialized parts of these buffers may be accessed incorrectly, leading to a buffer copy operation without proper size verification. This can cause memory corruption, which attackers could leverage to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or cause denial of service. The attack vector requires an attacker to connect a maliciously crafted USB device or smart card to the target system, which then sends specially crafted APDU responses to trigger the overflow. No privileges or user interaction are required, but physical access is necessary. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting the local access requirement and limited scope of impact. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, and no patches are currently linked, indicating that remediation is pending. OpenSC is widely used in environments requiring cryptographic operations and smart card authentication, making this vulnerability relevant for organizations relying on these technologies for secure access and identity management.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-45619 can be significant in sectors where smart card authentication and USB cryptographic tokens are prevalent, such as government agencies, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure operators. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive cryptographic keys or credentials, unauthorized code execution, or denial of service conditions disrupting authentication services. This could undermine trust in secure access mechanisms and potentially allow attackers to bypass authentication controls or compromise sensitive data. The requirement for physical access limits remote exploitation but raises concerns for environments with shared or publicly accessible workstations. Additionally, organizations with strict compliance requirements around cryptographic key management and identity verification may face regulatory and reputational risks if this vulnerability is exploited. The medium CVSS score reflects a moderate risk level, but the potential for targeted attacks in high-security environments elevates the threat profile for European entities.

To mitigate CVE-2024-45619, European organizations should: 1) Monitor vendor advisories closely and apply patches or updates to OpenSC components as soon as they become available. 2) Implement strict USB device control policies, including whitelisting approved devices and disabling automatic processing of untrusted USB devices or smart cards. 3) Enforce physical security controls to prevent unauthorized individuals from connecting malicious devices to critical systems. 4) Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for anomalous device behavior or unexpected APDU traffic patterns. 5) Conduct regular security audits of systems using OpenSC to identify and remediate potential misconfigurations. 6) Educate users and administrators about the risks of connecting unknown USB devices and the importance of reporting suspicious hardware. 7) Where feasible, isolate systems handling smart card authentication from general-purpose workstations to reduce attack surface. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on device control, physical security, and monitoring tailored to the attack vector.