PIV certificate overwrite via invalid admin key
Published Feb 12, 2025 · Updated Feb 12, 2025
Improper authentication in Nitrokey 3 Firmware 1.8.0 allows local users to generate PIV keys and overwrite certificates. The PIV application accepts invalid keys as proof of the administration key, but Nitrokey has not published the faulty validation logic. Exploitation requires physical access to the key or control of its connected host and permits PIV data writes, not extraction of existing private data or PIN-protected operations.
Summary
What happened
Improper authentication in Nitrokey 3 Firmware 1.8.0 allows local users to generate PIV keys and overwrite certificates. The PIV application accepts invalid keys as proof of the administration key, but Nitrokey has not published the faulty validation logic. Exploitation requires physical access to the key or control of its connected host and permits PIV data writes, not extraction of existing private data or PIN-protected operations.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-25201
- Published
- Feb 12, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 12, 2025
- Vendor
- Nitrokey
- Product
- Nitrokey 3 Firmware
- Classifications
- CWE-287, T1556
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 12, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 12, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion== 1.8.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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