Risky Business #759 – Why Iran's hack and leak will amount to naught
Aug 14, 2024
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Iranian hackers have resurfaced, leaking materials from the Trump campaign, reminiscent of their 2016 tactics, but skeptics question its impact today. A notable blunder by Crowdstrike earned them the ‘Epic Fail’ award at DEF CON. The podcast also tackles serious cybersecurity issues, like a hefty fine for a healthcare SaaS provider due to poor security practices, and debates on geofence warrants and privacy concerns. Additionally, recent Black Hat insights unveil alarming vulnerabilities in AMD CPUs and cloud security, while DARPA's AI Challenge showcases innovative approaches to bug detection.
The Iranian hacking group’s targeted election interference echoes tactics from 2016, reflecting a strategic move against former President Trump's political standing.
Contemporary warfare increasingly integrates cyberattacks, as seen in recent DDoS assaults linked to military operations, blurring the lines between digital and physical conflicts.
The evolving regulatory landscape for cybersecurity oversight highlights challenges in imposing effective rules on companies amidst changing technology and rising accountability standards.
Deep dives
Iranian Hackers and Election Interference
Iranian government hackers have reportedly obtained and leaked sensitive materials from the Trump campaign, reigniting concerns about election interference reminiscent of 2016. The hacking group's tactics included phishing based on emails linked to former Trump advisor Roger Stone, suggesting a targeted strategy rather than a broader interference effort. Analysts speculate that the goal of these attacks may be more about complicating the former President's political standing rather than directly aiming to influence election outcomes. Given the current political climate, many believe such leaks will not significantly affect the public's perception or voting behavior.
DDoS Attacks Amid Military Conflicts
The use of DDoS attacks has increasingly become integrated into military strategies, as seen in recent assaults targeting regions like Kursk, Russia. These cyberattacks are coupled with ground military operations, indicating a trend in contemporary warfare that includes cyberspace as a critical domain. The effectiveness of such actions remains debated, with questions about their tangible impacts on the battlefield and public perception. Still, the persistence of these tactics illustrates the shifting nature of conflict and the blending of digital and physical confrontations.
Recent Developments in Cybersecurity Regulations
The SEC appears to be retracting from its aggressive regulatory stance on companies regarding cybersecurity controls, as evidenced by recent statements from Progress Software and the dismissal of parts of a civil fraud case against SolarWinds. Progress has expressed confidence that it will avoid enforcement actions by the SEC in light of these developments, although it still faces lawsuits from other regulatory bodies. Meanwhile, companies like Advanced, which faced legal penalties for cybersecurity failures, are being held accountable for inadequate security measures such as not implementing multi-factor authentication. This evolving regulatory landscape highlights the complexities of cybersecurity oversight and the challenges regulators face in imposing effective rules on rapidly changing technology.
Vulnerabilities in AMD and Windows Security
Recent research has uncovered profound vulnerabilities related to AMD CPUs, particularly regarding their System Management Mode, which could allow attackers to access sensitive system controls and escalate privileges. These vulnerabilities pose significant risk, as they can remain hidden for years and offer attackers potential access to system firmware. Meanwhile, novel attacks against Windows involving downgrade strategies have been demonstrated, allowing malicious actors to revert systems to vulnerable states through legitimate update processes. Both findings emphasize the urgent need for robust security measures in hardware and software, highlighting how attackers continuously exploit existing flaws.
AI Cyber Challenge Insights
The DARPA AI Cyber Challenge presented an innovative platform for teams to apply AI for automated bug detection and patching in real software. The competition's structure, which included real-time evaluation of systems against complex software like Linux and Nginx, provided valuable insights into the capabilities of AI in cybersecurity. Participants, including Trail of Bits, discovered both synthetic and genuine vulnerabilities, showcasing the potential of AI-powered tools in identifying and addressing security issues. As the challenge progresses to its final round, these efforts may contribute significantly to developing practical solutions for automated vulnerability management.
On this week’s show, Patrick Gray and Adam Boileau discuss the week’s security news and recap the best research presented at Black Hat and DEF CON in Las Vegas last week. They cover:
Iran tries an election hack’n’leak like its still 2016
Crowdstrike takes home the Pwnie for Epic Fail at DEF CON
UK healthcare SaaS faces six million pound fine for lack of MFA
US circuit courts disagree on geofence warrants
Our roundup of juicy Blackhat/DEF CON research
And much, much more.
This week’s episode is sponsored by Trail of Bits. CEO Dan Guido is fresh back from the DARPA AI Cyber Challenge at DEF CON, where the Trail of Bits team moved through into the finals. Dan talks through the challenge of finding, reporting and fixing bugs with AI systems.