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CVE-2020-10941: Arm Mbed TLS before 2.16.5 allows attackers to obtain sensitive information (an RSA private key) by measuri...

Arm Mbed TLS before 2.16.5 allows attackers to obtain sensitive information (an RSA private key) by measuring cache usage during an import.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-10941 is a side-channel information leak in Arm Mbed TLS before 2.16.5. An attacker who can measure cache usage during RSA private-key import may recover sensitive key material. Business impact depends on where vulnerable Mbed TLS is embedded and whether RSA keys are imported there.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted cryptographic exposure, not a broad remote takeover based on current evidence. Prioritize internet-facing, multi-tenant, embedded, or high-trust systems that import RSA private keys using old Mbed TLS.

Technical view

The CVE describes cache-usage leakage during RSA private-key import in Arm Mbed TLS versions before 2.16.5. The exposed asset is an RSA private key. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, detailed prerequisites, or a broader affected-version matrix beyond the pre-2.16.5 statement.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in applications, firmware, appliances, or Linux packages using Arm Mbed TLS before 2.16.5 and importing RSA private keys. Vendored or statically linked copies may remain exposed after operating-system packages are updated.

Exploitation context

No provided source or KEV status indicates active exploitation. The described attack depends on measuring cache usage during key import, so practical risk likely depends on attacker proximity, timing, and runtime environment. The bundle does not define those prerequisites in detail.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE description and vendor or distribution advisory links. The key unknowns are attack prerequisites, affected branches beyond the stated version boundary, and whether downstream vendors backported the fix without changing visible version numbers.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Arm Mbed TLS to 2.16.5 or later where used.
  • Apply Fedora or Debian security updates where those packages are in scope.
  • Check vendor guidance for embedded, appliance, and statically linked deployments.
  • Assess whether RSA keys imported on vulnerable systems require rotation.
  • Track upstream Mbed TLS advisories for any additional guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory all products and codebases using Mbed TLS.
  • Confirm runtime and build-time Mbed TLS versions are not before 2.16.5.
  • Identify systems that import RSA private keys with Mbed TLS.
  • Check for vendored or statically linked Mbed TLS copies.
  • Verify applicable Fedora or Debian package updates are installed.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2020-10941 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
5Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.