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4.5 Sniffing

NIST PIV and digital identity SP 800-116 Rev. 1 against SP 800-116
All changes in this version
removed 4 Threat Environment part of 4

Title changed

Before · SP 800-116

Sniffing

After · SP 800-116 Rev. 1

Sniffing

Control changed

Before · SP 800-116

When a PIV Card is presented to a contactless reader at an access point, the reader supplies power to the PIV Card through inductive coupling and a series of messages is exchanged between the PIV Card and reader using RF communications. A sniffer is a receiver that does not supply power to the smart card. A sniffer can operate at greater distance than a skimmer (sniffing at a distance of about 10 m has been reported), because a legitimate reader powers the PIV Card at the nominal distance of a few centimeters, while the sniffer’s RF receiver is farther away. Potentially, a sniffer could capture the entire message transaction between the contactless reader and the PIV Card. The PIV Card mitigates the risk of sniffing by the same access rules that prevent the release of biometric and other data over the contactless interface. The CHUID can be sniffed, however, when used over a contactless interface. Shielding techniques that positively deactivate a PIV Card when not in use cannot mitigate the risk of sniffing, because a PIV Card must be activated to perform a legitimate authentication transaction.

After · SP 800-116 Rev. 1

When a PIV Card is presented to a contactless reader at an access point, the reader supplies power to the PIV Card through inductive coupling and a series of messages is exchanged between the PIV Card and reader using RF communications. A sniffer is a receiver that does not supply power to the smart card. A sniffer can operate at greater distance than a skimmer (sniffing at a distance of about 10 m has been reported), because a legitimate reader powers the PIV Card at the nominal distance of a few centimeters, while the sniffer’s RF receiver is farther away. Potentially, a sniffer could capture the entire message transaction between the contactless reader and the PIV Card. The PIV Card mitigates the risk of sniffing by the same access rules that prevent the release of biometric and other data over the contactless interface. The CHUID can be sniffed, however, when used over a contactless interface. Shielding techniques that positively deactivate a PIV Card when not in use cannot mitigate the risk of sniffing, because a PIV Card must be activated to perform a legitimate authentication transaction.