CVE-2024-45620 identifies a classic buffer overflow vulnerability in the pkcs15-init tool, part of the OpenSC project, which is widely used for smart card and USB token management. The vulnerability arises when the tool processes Application Protocol Data Units (APDUs) from connected smart cards or USB devices. Specifically, if an attacker presents a maliciously crafted device that returns specially malformed APDU responses, the tool may improperly handle buffers that are only partially filled with data. This improper handling leads to accessing initialized parts of the buffer incorrectly, causing a buffer overflow condition. Such overflows can result in memory corruption, potentially allowing an attacker to cause denial of service, leak sensitive information, or in rare cases, execute arbitrary code depending on the environment and exploitation complexity. The vulnerability requires physical or logical access to the device interface (local access), has high attack complexity, and does not require privileges or user interaction, which limits its exploitation scope. No public exploits are known, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating the vulnerability is newly disclosed. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 3.9 reflects low severity, mainly due to the limited attack vector and complexity. However, given OpenSC's role in secure authentication and cryptographic operations, this vulnerability could impact systems relying on smart card authentication or cryptographic key management.

For European organizations, especially those in government, finance, and critical infrastructure sectors that rely on smart card-based authentication and cryptographic operations, this vulnerability could lead to partial compromise of system integrity and confidentiality. An attacker with physical or logical access could exploit a malicious USB device or smart card to cause application crashes or leak sensitive data from memory buffers. While the low CVSS score suggests limited impact, disruption of authentication processes or leakage of cryptographic material could have cascading effects on secure communications and identity verification. The threat is more pronounced in environments where devices are shared or where untrusted hardware might be introduced, such as public terminals or supply chain scenarios. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability should be addressed proactively to maintain trust in smart card security mechanisms.

Organizations should implement strict controls on the use of external USB devices and smart cards, including whitelisting trusted devices and disabling unused interfaces. Monitoring and logging of smart card interactions can help detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Applying vendor patches or updates to OpenSC as soon as they become available is critical. In the interim, consider restricting pkcs15-init tool usage to trusted environments and users. Employ hardware security modules (HSMs) or alternative cryptographic solutions that do not rely solely on vulnerable OpenSC components. Conduct regular security audits of smart card management infrastructure and educate users about the risks of connecting untrusted devices. Additionally, sandboxing or running the pkcs15-init tool with minimal privileges can limit potential damage from exploitation.