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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2024-41715 goTenna CVE debrief

A medium-severity information disclosure vulnerability exists in the goTenna Pro ATAK Plugin versions 1.9.12 and earlier. The plugin fails to inject padding characters into broadcasted frames, allowing adversaries with adjacent network access to infer payload length regardless of encryption strength. This side-channel leakage could aid traffic analysis and correlation attacks against tactical communications. CISA published advisory ICSA-24-270-05 on September 26, 2024, with an update on October 17, 2024 refining vulnerability details and mitigations. goTenna has released ATAK Plugin version 2.0.7 to address this weakness.

Vendor
goTenna
Product
Pro ATAK Plugin
CVSS
MEDIUM 4.3
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2024-09-26
Original CVE updated
2024-10-17
Advisory published
2024-09-26
Advisory updated
2024-10-17

Who should care

Organizations using goTenna Pro ATAK Plugin for tactical or emergency communications, particularly military, law enforcement, search and rescue, and critical infrastructure protection teams where traffic pattern confidentiality is operationally significant. Security architects designing encrypted mesh networks should evaluate length-hiding mechanisms in their protocol implementations.

Technical summary

The goTenna Pro ATAK Plugin transmits broadcast frames without length-obfuscating padding, exposing payload size to passive observers within radio range. This cryptographic side channel persists regardless of encryption algorithm strength, enabling adversaries to perform traffic analysis, message correlation, and potential inference of communication patterns. The vulnerability requires adjacent network access (AV:A) with low attack complexity and no privileges or user interaction. Confidentiality impact is rated low as the vulnerability leaks message metadata rather than content. The fix implements frame padding to normalize transmitted message lengths.

Defensive priority

medium

Recommended defensive actions

  • Upgrade goTenna Pro ATAK Plugin to version 2.0.7 or later
  • Use discreet callsigns and key names that do not reveal location, team size, or team composition
  • Implement strong endpoint security including encryption and regular software updates on all end-user devices
  • Follow encryption key rotation best practices per industry standards
  • Exchange encryption keys via QR code rather than broadcast when possible
  • When broadcasting keys is necessary, operate from secured areas at reduced 0.5 Watt power
  • Implement layered encryption for communications with individuals and teams
  • Review goTenna secure operating best practices documentation

Evidence notes

Vulnerability confirmed through CISA CSAF advisory ICSA-24-270-05 with CVSS 3.1 score 4.3 (AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N). Affected product explicitly identified as goTenna Pro ATAK Plugin <=1.9.12. Remediation version 2.0.7 specified in vendor mitigations.

Official resources

public