Hidden Exploitable Behaviors in Programming Languages
In February 28th 2015 Egor Homakov wrote an article[1] exposing the dangers in the open() function from Ruby. The function is commonly used when requesting URLs programmatically with the open-uri library. However, instead of requesting URLs you may end up executing operating system commands. Consider the following Ruby script named open-uri.rb: require ‘open-uri’ print open(ARGV[0]).read The following command requests a web page: # ruby open-uri.rb “https://ioactive.com” And the following output is shown: <!DOCTYPE HTML> <!–[if lt IE 9]><html class=”ie”><![endif]–> <!–[if !IE]><!–><html><!–<![endif]–><head> <meta charset=”UTF-8″> <title>IOActive is…
Treat the Cause, not the Symptoms!
With the publication of the National Audit Office report on WannaCry fresh off the press, I think it’s important that we revisit what it actually means. There are worrying statements within the various reports around preventative measures that could have been taken. In particular, where the health service talks about treating the cause, not the symptom, you would expect that ethos to cross functions, from the primary caregivers to the primary security services. I read that the NHS Digital team carried out an onsite cyber assessment of 88…
AmosConnect: Maritime Communications Security Has Its Flaws
Satellite communications security has been a target of our research for some time: in 2014 IOActive released a document detailing many vulnerabilities in popular SATCOM systems. Since then we’ve had the opportunity to dive deeper in this area, and learned a lot more about some of the environments in which these systems are in place. Recently, we saw that Shodan released a new tool that tracks the location of VSAT systems exposed to the Internet. These systems are typically installed in vessels to provide them with internet connectivity…
Embedding Defense in Server-side Applications
Applications always contain security flaws, which is why we rely on multiple layers of defense. Applications are still struggling with their defenses, even though we go through exhaustive measures of testing and defense layers. Perhaps we should rethink our approach to application defense, with the goal of introducing defensive methods that cause attackers to cease, or induce them to take incorrect actions based on false premises. There are a variety of products that provide valuable resources when basic, off-the-shelf protection is required or the application source code is…
Microsoft Kernel Graphic Driver Kernel Memory Address Disclosure
The latest version of Microsoft Basic Render Driver (BasicRender.sys 10.0.15063.413) is vulnerable to information disclosure. This issue allows an unprivileged user to map the kernel memory layout.
[Meta Analysis] Rick and Morty S3E1: The Hacker’s Episode
Hi folks, I’m a huge Rick and Morty fan. Sometimes while watching it, I notice allegories and puns related to security, privacy, physics, psychology, and a wide range of scientific fields. Because of this, I’ve decided to review some Rick and Morty episode and share my observations with the wonderful folks who work in these fields and those who aspire to 😉 Enjoy! A machine force feeding a human. Being brutally and utterly dedicated to our whims, the robots show us how perverted…
Are You Trading Securely? Insights into the (In)Security of Mobile Trading Apps
The days of open shouting on the trading floors of the NYSE, NASDAQ, and other stock exchanges around the globe are gone. With the advent of electronic trading platforms and networks, the exchange of financial securities now is easier and faster than ever; but this comes with inherent risks. From the beginning, bad actors have also joined Wall Street’s party, developing clever models for fraudulent gains. Their efforts have included everything from fictitious brokerage firms that ended up being Ponzi schemes[1] to…
The Other Side of Cloud Data Risk
What I’m writing here isn’t about whether you should be in the cloud or not. That’s a complex question, it’s highly dependent on your business, and experts could still disagree even after seeing all of the inputs What I want to talk about is two distinct considerations when looking at the risk of moving your entire company to the cloud. There are many companies doing this, especially in the Bay Area. CRM, HR, Email—it’s all cloud, and the number of cloud vendors totals in the hundreds, perhaps even thousands. We’re…
Exploiting Industrial Collaborative Robots
Traditional industrial robots are boring. Typically, they are autonomous or operate with limited guidance and execute repetitive, programmed tasks in manufacturing and production settings.1 They are often used to perform duties that are dangerous or unsuitable for workers; therefore, they operate in isolation from humans and other valuable machinery. This is not the case with the latest generation collaborative robots (“cobots”) though. They function with co-workers in shared workspaces while respecting safety standards. This generation of robots works hand-in-hand with humans, assisting them, rather than just performing automated, isolated operations. Cobots can learn movements, “see” through…
IOActive Labs: Breaking Embedded Devices (Black Hat)
IOActive researchers give you an inside view of the IOActive Labs research facilities and highlight research hacking ATMs, Segways, and skimmers.