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Key Vulnerabilities Against State Actors
Physical Access Exploits:
The Bitpixie vulnerability (CVE-2023-21563) allows attackers with brief physical access to extract BitLocker keys in minutes via DMA attacks.
Cold boot attacks can bypass encryption by freezing RAM to recover keys, especially if Memory Overwrite Request (MOR Bit) isn't enabled.
Configuration Weaknesses:
TPM-only mode (without pre-boot PIN) is highly vulnerable to bus sniffing or firmware attacks.
Outdated firmware/TPM chips lack protections against hardware-level exploits.
Backdoor and Supply Chain Risks:
Microsoft's confirmed cooperation with the NSA raises concerns about intentional backdoors.
Closed-source code prevents independent audits, making undetected compromises likely.
State-Sponsored Weaponization:
Iranian group DEV-0270 (Nemesis Kitten) abuses BitLocker to encrypt systems in ransomware operations, typically within 48 hours of infiltration.
Mitigation Strategies
Pre-Boot Authentication: Always combine TPM with a strong PIN to block physical attacks.
Secure Boot: Enable and validate to prevent bootkit compromises.
Firmware Hardening: Update BIOS/UEFI and enable MOR Bit to counter cold boot/RAM extraction.
Air-Gapping: For extreme threats, isolate sensitive systems from networks.