CVE-2025-25201 MEDIUM

CVE-2025-25201: Improper Validation of Admin Key in PIV Smartcard

Vendor Nitrokey
Product nitrokey-3-firmware
Weakness CWE-287 · Improper authentication
Published February 12, 2025
Last update February 12, 2025

CVSS base score

4.0/10
Attack vector Local
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required None
User interaction None
Confidentiality None
Integrity Low

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

What the vulnerability does

01Description

Nitrokey 3 Firmware is the the firmware of Nitrokey 3 USB keys. For release 1.8.0, and test releases with PIV enabled prior to 1.8.0, the PIV application could accept invalid keys for authentication of the admin key. This could lead to compromise of the integrity of the data stored in the application. An attacker without access to the proper administration key would be able to generate new keys and overwrite certificates. Such an attacker would not be able to read-out or extract existing private data, nor would they be able to gain access to cryptographic operations that would normally require PIN-based authentication. The issue is fixed in piv-authenticator 0.3.9, and in Nitrokey's firmware 1.8.1.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

February 12, 2025 CVE published
February 12, 2025 Record updated