CVE-2022-24402
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2022-24402 is a cryptographic weakness in the TETRA TEA1 keystream generator where the 80-bit key is compressed to only 32 bits during initialization, making it vulnerable to brute-force attacks. This affects systems using TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) communications with TEA1 encryption, primarily critical infrastructure, public safety, and industrial control systems.
💻 Affected Systems
- TETRA systems implementing TEA1 encryption algorithm
📦 What is this software?
Tetra\ by Midnightblue
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of encrypted TETRA communications allowing attackers to decrypt sensitive voice/data transmissions, potentially exposing critical infrastructure communications, emergency services coordination, or industrial control commands.
Likely Case
Passive interception and decryption of TETRA communications by well-resourced attackers, leading to information disclosure of sensitive operational data.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if alternative encryption methods are used or if TETRA networks are isolated from untrusted networks.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires radio access to TETRA networks and specialized equipment. The cryptographic weakness makes brute-force attacks feasible against the reduced key space.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: N/A
Vendor Advisory: https://tetraburst.com/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
No direct patch available. Migrate to stronger TETRA encryption algorithms (TEA2, TEA3, or TEA4) where supported by equipment.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Migrate to stronger TETRA encryption
allConfigure TETRA systems to use TEA2, TEA3, or TEA4 encryption algorithms instead of TEA1
Network segmentation and monitoring
allIsolate TETRA networks from other networks and implement radio frequency monitoring
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement additional encryption layer (IPsec/VPN) over TETRA data transmissions
- Limit sensitive communications on TETRA networks and use alternative secure channels for critical data
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check TETRA device configuration to determine if TEA1 encryption is enabled. Consult device documentation or vendor for encryption algorithm settings.Check Version:
N/A (vulnerability is in algorithm implementation, not specific software version)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify TETRA systems are configured to use TEA2, TEA3, or TEA4 encryption instead of TEA1 through device configuration interfaces.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual decryption failures
- Increased authentication retries on TETRA networks
Network Indicators:
- Unusual radio frequency activity patterns
- Suspicious TETRA protocol analysis
SIEM Query:
N/A (TETRA networks typically use proprietary protocols not monitored by standard SIEMs)