Rafomac News, Tech & Trends That MatterLedger’s security team cracked Tangem’s hardware wallet using a precision laser to reset the password, exposing a major flaw. This attack doesn’t require the original password or backup cards but demands specialist lab gear. What does that mean for crypto users?
How Ledger Broke Tangem’s Security with a Laser
Security researchers from Ledger, a leading hardware wallet maker, recently revealed they cracked Tangem’s wallet by aiming a precise laser pulse at the secure chip. This laser manipulated a single internal check—tricking the device into thinking it was in recovery mode, even when it wasn’t. With this trick, they reset the wallet’s password without needing the original one.
The implications are striking. Anyone controlling the new password gains control over the crypto assets stored on the card. Essentially, one laser pulse flipped a tiny switch to hand over the keys.
Why This Attack Hits a Vulnerability That Can’t Be Patched
Ledger’s detailed testing showed this vulnerability affects every Tangem card currently in circulation. Worse, since Tangem cards lack a firmware update mechanism, there’s no software fix to patch this hole on existing devices. Once the attack parameters are dialed in—an effort taking about two hours per card—success hits 100% in lab tests.
Despite these alarming facts, the attack demands physical possession of the card, a specialized lab worth about $250,000, and a high level of hardware security expertise. The process physically damages the card, making it impossible to conceal upon completion.
Tangem’s Response: Setting The Record Straight
Tangem pushed back quickly, pointing out that this attack doesn’t scale. Each target requires an enormous investment of time and money with no guarantee of a payoff—since cards carry no user-identifiable information or balance on them.
This makes the attack effectively a costly gamble. Tangem also reminded users that they have no seed phrase, reducing the risk of common seed theft scams. Their design choice deliberately avoids automatic key deletion on attack detection to prevent users from losing access accidentally.
How to Think About Your Crypto Security Now
This discovery shifts how we see Tangem wallet security—but mainly only if a card is lost or stolen. The risk of someone running this laser attack on a wallet in your possession is negligible. Most crypto theft still happens through phishing, hacked apps, or careless seed phrase exposure, not laser lab break-ins.
If your Tangem card goes missing, moving funds promptly becomes critical. Treat it like losing a physical safe key. For high-value holdings, physical security must be as tight as any physical asset.
It’s worth remembering no hardware wallet is impervious to all attacks. Every product has vulnerabilities—often in physical attack vectors requiring sophisticated equipment. Ledger’s work responsibly highlights this reality without denying that these attacks are impractical for everyday criminals.
What’s Next for Tangem and Hardware Wallet Security?
We’ll be watching if Tangem adopts Ledger’s recommended hardware hardening in future card models and how they address this flaw going forward. Equally, if this attack ever moves beyond lab research into real-life cases, that would change the threat landscape significantly.
For now, this proof-of-concept emphasizes awareness over panic. Understanding your wallet’s security boundaries helps make better decisions about protecting your crypto assets.
