Ledger’s security research division, Donjon, has identified a hardware vulnerability affecting the TROPIC01 chip integrated into the Trezor Safe 7 hardware wallet. The research team successfully demonstrated a laboratory attack utilizing a precision laser to circumvent the chip’s firmware verification protocols. While this exploit could theoretically allow for the loading of unauthorized firmware, Trezor has affirmed that user funds and sensitive data remain secure due to the multi-layered security architecture of the Trezor Safe 7.
Key Takeaways
- A lab-based laser attack was used to bypass the firmware verification system on the TROPIC01 chip within the Trezor Safe 7.
- The vulnerability was discovered by Ledger’s Donjon security research team and disclosed in coordination with Tropic Square, the chip manufacturer.
- Tropic Square has indicated that the TROPIC01 chip’s MAC-and-Destroy security mechanism, which protects PIN verification, is also susceptible to an additional attack path.
- Trezor maintains that user funds, private keys, and wallet backups are not stored on the compromised chip, thus remaining unaffected.
- A firmware-based mitigation is available, and Tropic Square is working on a hardened silicon revision of the TROPIC01 chip, expected in late 2026.
The attack, meticulously detailed by both Ledger and Tropic Square, involved decapsulating the chip and employing a specifically calibrated 1064 nm laser. This method aimed to introduce faults during the signature verification process, which occurs during firmware updates and device initialization. The implication is that an attacker with physical access to the device and specialized equipment could potentially install malicious firmware and execute it upon the device’s boot-up.
Ledger’s team provided evidence of a successful exploit by configuring the modified chip to respond with “HACK” during basic device identification. Tropic Square has confirmed that this vulnerability impacts all TROPIC01 chips currently deployed in the market.
Security Architecture and Mitigation Strategies
Despite the discovered vulnerability, the practical risk to user assets is significantly mitigated by the Trezor Safe 7’s design. The TROPIC01 chip serves as one of three distinct security components within the hardware wallet. Crucially, it does not store user funds, private keys, or wallet backup seeds. Trezor’s security model ensures that these critical elements are distributed across multiple layers, preventing a single point of failure.
Initially, Ledger’s research indicated that the chip’s hardware-based secret storage, specifically the MAC-and-Destroy mechanism underpinning PIN verification, remained resilient against their extraction attempts. However, Tropic Square’s subsequent analysis revealed a separate vulnerability targeting this same protective boundary. The company has opted to withhold specific technical details of this secondary exploit until a more secure version of the TROPIC01 chip is finalized, with a projected release in late 2026. A comprehensive technical disclosure is anticipated in the spring of 2027.
A preliminary mitigation measure involves disabling the MAINTENANCE mode on the chip. This action effectively obstructs the primary entry point for the disclosed attack, necessitating a more intricate, multi-stage exploit for potential compromise. Ledger has commended Tropic Square for its transparent and cooperative approach throughout the coordinated disclosure process, noting the chip maker’s swift acknowledgment of the findings and commitment to remediation.
Trezor has communicated proactively with its partners regarding the vulnerability and has stated that no immediate action is required from its user base. Matej Zak, CEO of Trezor, emphasized that this outcome aligns with the company’s foundational design principles. He reiterated that critical user data, such as PINs, wallet backups, and private keys, are intentionally not housed on a single chip. Zak views the open and methodical process of discovering, examining, and disclosing such vulnerabilities as a benchmark for the industry.
Potential Regulatory Precedent and Industry Implications
This incident, while concerning from a hardware security perspective, underscores a broader trend within the cryptocurrency industry concerning product security and disclosure. While not directly related to regulatory compliance in terms of SEC actions or global frameworks like MiCA, the rigorous and open disclosure of such vulnerabilities by security research teams, as seen with Ledger and Tropic Square, sets a precedent for industry best practices. Such transparency, when handled responsibly, can bolster user confidence and drive manufacturers towards more robust security implementations. Future regulatory discussions around hardware security standards for digital asset custody solutions might draw upon the transparency and collaborative remediation demonstrated in this case, even if the primary focus remains on financial regulations rather than specific hardware exploits. The stakes for companies in this space are high, as demonstrated by the market’s reaction to any perceived security lapse, regardless of whether user funds were directly threatened.
The ongoing dynamic of security research teams uncovering hardware flaws in competing devices, and vice versa, continues to be a feature of the hardware wallet market. This collaborative yet competitive environment, exemplified by Ledger’s Donjon team and Trezor’s own security disclosures, such as the vulnerability identified in their Safe 3 model in March 2025, contributes to the overall hardening of security within the sector.
Source: : www.theblock.co