TLS_KRB5_EXPORT_WITH_RC2_CBC_40_MD5
Breakdown of the TLS_KRB5_EXPORT_WITH_RC2_CBC_40_MD5 cipher suite
Cyber Security Rating for TLS_KRB5_EXPORT_WITH_RC2_CBC_40_MD5 - F
C
Key Exchange Mechanism
Cryptographic algorithms with low adoption should be avoided due to several critical reasons. They often lack rigorous scrutiny and testing by the broader cryptographic community, which increases the risk of undetected vulnerabilities. Moreover, their limited deployment means fewer opportunities for real-world validation and feedback, hindering confidence in their security and interoperability with existing systems. High adoption indicates robustness from extensive scrutiny and successful implementation in diverse environments.
D
Cipher
Deprecated, vulnerable to low cost chosen-prefix attacks. These attacks allow an adversary to generate two different plaintexts that produce the same hash when encrypted. Due to its weak security, RC2 is no longer recommended for use in modern cryptographic applications.</a>.
F
Hash
MD5 is considered highly insecure because chosen prefixes can be generated with minimal computing power. This vulnerability allows attackers to create different inputs that produce the same hash, leading to potential data breaches and integrity issues. Consequently, MD5 is unsuitable for modern cryptographic needs and should be avoided in favor of more secure algorithms.
F
Key Size
A 40-bit cipher length is too short because it can be easily broken through brute-force attacks due to the limited number of possible keys (2^40). Modern computational power allows attackers to quickly try all potential keys, making 40-bit encryption insufficient for protecting sensitive data.
D
Cipher Mode
Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) mode is vulnerable to the Lucky13 and POODLE (in TLS v1.2 and below) attacks. The Lucky13 attack exploits timing discrepancies in padding validation, allowing attackers to gradually reveal plaintext. The POODLE attack leverages padding errors to decrypt ciphertext by repeatedly modifying and sending it to the server, observing the error responses. These vulnerabilities arise from CBC's handling of padding and error messages, making it less secure than modern encryption modes like Galois/Counter Mode (GCM), which offer stronger integrity and confidentiality guarantees.
Web infrastructure owners must ensure they only allow secure cipher suites to protect against potential security threats. Cipher suites determine the encryption algorithms and key exchange mechanisms used in HTTPS connections. Insecure cipher suites can leave data vulnerable to interception, decryption, and manipulation by malicious actors. By restricting to secure cipher suites, owners mitigate risks such as data breaches, unauthorized access, and compromise of sensitive information. This proactive measure helps maintain trust with users, ensures compliance with security standards, and safeguards the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted over the web.
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