Using a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm

This is a Vulnerability. To view all vulnerabilities, please see the Vulnerability Category page.

Last revision (mm/dd/yy): 02/21/2009

Vulnerabilities Table of Contents

Description

Attempting to create non-standard and non-tested algorithms, using weak algorithms, or applying algorithms incorrectly will pose a high weakness to data that is meant to be secure.

Consequences

• Confidentiality: The confidentiality of sensitive data may be compromised by the use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm.
• Integrity: The integrity of sensitive data may be compromised by the use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm.
• Accountability: Any accountability to message content preserved by cryptography may be subject to attack.

Exposure period

• Design: The decision as to what cryptographic algorithm to utilize is generally made at design time.

Platform

• Languages: All
• Operating platforms: All

Required resources

Any

Severity

High

Likelihood of exploit

Medium to High

Since the state of cryptography advances so rapidly, it is common to find algorithms, which previously were considered to be safe, currently considered unsafe. In some cases, things are discovered, or processing speed increases to the degree that the cryptographic algorithm provides little more benefit than the use of no cryptography at all.

Risk Factors

• Use of custom cryptographic algorithms.
• Use of weak and/or untested public algorithms.

Examples

In C/C++:

EVP_des_ecb();

In Java:

Cipher des=Cipher.getInstance("DES...);
des.initEncrypt(key2);

Related Attacks

• Attack 1
• Attack 2

Related Vulnerabilities

• Failure to encrypt data

Related Controls

• Design: Use a cryptographic algorithm that is currently considered to be strong by experts in the field.

Related Technical Impacts

• Technical Impact 1
• Technical Impact 2

References

TBD