‘Experts' Fail On Dumbo IP Camera ‘Hack'

Author: Brian Karas, Published on Aug 24, 2017

Dumbo, revealed by Wikileaks, has become big news.

Unfortunately, 'experts' in the security industry have gotten it wrong, incorrectly contending that Dumbo hacks IP cameras.

In this report, we examine Dumbo, the erroneous claims and the impact that such errors have on cybersecurity.

*****, ******** ** *********, *** ****** *** ****.

*************, '*******' ** *** ******** ******** **** ****** ** *****, incorrectly ********** **** ***** ***** ** *******.

** **** ******, ** ******* *****, *** ********* ****** *** the ****** **** **** ****** **** ** *************.

[***************]

Dumbo *** *******

***********'* ********* *** ***** ***** *** ************** * ******** *********** ******** ** *** *******, **** ********, and ******* ******** ****** ******** ** ******* ********. ** ** executed ******* ** *** ******* ***** *************, ********* **** * USB *****. ***** ***** ** *** ** ******, ***** ***** require ************* ****** ** *** ******* ***** *************.

** ********, ********* ** ** ****** **** ** ******* *** do ** ******* ********* **** *** *****, ****** ******** **** 'Dumbo' ******** ** ******* *** *** ** ** *******.

No ** / *** **********

*** ***** ****** ***** ** ********* ** ** ******* (** any ** ******* *** **** ******), *** *******, ***-** ***********, or *** **** ** ******/********* ******, ***********, ** ******. ** does ******* ***/*** ******* *** ***********, ** ***** ** *** machine ******* *** ********.

Erroneous **** ** *****

*** **** **** ***** ***** ** **** ** ******** ******* did *** **** **** **** ******* ****** ** ** * threat.

*** ******** "*********: *** ********* ** ****** ****"******* ******** **** ***** ****** *** *** ** "**** *** IP ******* ** *********** ** * ******** ****** ******* ****** in", * ***** ***** ** *** ****** ** ********. *************, SDM **** ***** ** ***** ********** ***** ******** *************** ** IP *******.

*** "******** ** ****** *********"******* ********:

*** **** ************* ******* ** *****'* ************* **********,******* **********, *** ****** *** **** **** ************** ** ******** ******** "*** *** ******* ******** ******* ****** Operations":

*** **** *** ****** ****** ** ********.

**** ****** *** ** *** ************ ** *** ****, ** tries ** ****** *** *** ************** ******* ** ******* *** post:

Lots ** ****** *** **** ** *******

**** *** *** **** **** ** **** ** *******? *********. But ** *** **** ** ****** ****** ** *** ********. The ****** ** ******* ** ********* ******** *************** ******** ** grow. ** *** *******, ******** *** **** ***** ******* *** be ******* ********* ** ******** ******** ************* ****** ********* ******. *** *** *** **** **** *** ** **** *** number ** ****** *** *** ****** *** ******** *** *** a ******.

***** ***** *** **** **** ** **** ******* ** *******, there ** ** ******** ***** ** *** ** ****.

Downside ** ******* ***** ******** *********

* *** ***** ***, ***** ******** *** ****** ********* ** the ******** ********, *** *** ** *** ****** * ******* topic. ***** *** ******* ********* ** ****, *** ******** ** that **** ************ *** ********* **** *** **** ** * hot ***** ** ********** **, ******* ** ****** ********* ** researched ****** ** ***** ******** ******* ******.

Worse **** *****'* *** ** ********

**** ** ******* **, *** ***** ****, *** ***********'* *** ****** ******** ********, ***** ** ***** ********* ** ******, ************ *******. *****, the ******** ******* ****** *****'* *** ***** ************ ****** ********** to *** ***** ********* *** *********** ********, ************* *** **** of ***** ******** ******.

Caution ******* ** ***** ******** ******

************ ****** ******** ******* ***** ******** ** ***** ****** ********** proof, *** ************* ******** ***** ******** ***** ******* ******* ***** or ******** ******** ** ******** ******** ****** ** ******** **** caution ****** ******* ** **** ***********.

Comments (20)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

08/24/17 05:23pm

"*** ******** "*********: *** ********* ** ****** ****"******* ******** **** ***** ****** *** *** ** "**** *** IP ******* ** *********** ** * ******** ****** ******* ****** in", * ***** ***** ** *** ****** ** ********. *************, SDM **** ***** ** ***** ********** ***** ******** *************** ** IP *******."

******'* ** ** ****** ** **** *** ***** ** *** building, ** *** ****** *****?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 08/24/17 02:31pm

**, ******* **** **** ***** **** *** ****!

Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 08/24/17 04:48pm

**** ***** *** *********** **** **** **** **** ** *** Watergate *****

** **** **... :*

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 08/24/17 04:57pm

**** *** **** **** ****** ***

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 08/24/17 05:32pm

******'* ** ** ****** ** **** *** ***** ** *** building, ** *** ****** *****?

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Brian Karas | 08/24/17 07:06pm

****, * ** *** ***** *** *** *** *** ************* to **** *** ***** ** * ******** ** **** ** demand, ******* **** ******* *************.

********, *** *** *****'* ********* ********** ** *** ****** *** borders ** *** ****** ******, ** "******* *************" *** *** be *********.

Undisclosed End User #4

08/24/17 08:21pm

-=[****** "******** ************" ****]=-

d'oh

Undisclosed #3

08/24/17 08:33pm

******** * ***** **** **** *** ******** **** ** *******,** ***** *********** ****** **** *******, ** *******, ******** **** cases.

***** ** ******* ** ******* **** *** ***** **** ***** is **** **

"**** *** ** ******* ** *********** ** * ******** ****** sending ****** **"

** *****.

********, *** **** ******* ** ***** ** ** ***** ****** to ****** *****/***** ******** ** * ******** ************** ****** **** ****** ******,** ***** ***** ******. ****'* *** **'* ** * ***** drive; ****** ***** ** ** *** *** *** *** ** at *** *******.

** **** ***, ***** ** * **** ** **** ******** and ****** *** ***** **** ******* ***** ** ******** ** the ***** ** **

  1. *********** *** *******/***********
  2. *********** *** ********* ********** **** ***** *******
  3. *********** *** **** ***** ********** **** ***** *********
  4. ********/******** ***** *****

**** ** * ******* **** ** ** ******* ** *** documentation, ***** *****.

**** *** ****** **** ***** ******* *** ****** ** ****. If ** **** ******* *** ******** *** ***** ********** ******* of * ***** ******** ******, *** ***** ***** ******** *********** ********** ******, **** ****** ** *******. ****.

***** ***** **** ***** ******* ** ** ******** ***** ** similarly ********.

**** ****, * ***** **** *** ******* ** **** ******* as ** *** ******* **************** *** **************** ** *** ******** and ****** ** *****.

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 08/24/17 09:05pm

*** *** ******* ** *** ***** ******* ** *****. * wanted ** **** **** **** *** **** **-***** *********** ** it, ** **** *** *** *** **** ***** ** *** report.

*****, ***** ******* ** "*****" ***, *** *******, *** ********* not ** ******* (****** ***** ** ***** **** ****** ***** ***** ******* ***** ** ******). *** ***-*****-**-***-** ******* ** ******* ** ********* **** ***** have **** ** **** ****, *** ******. ***** *** **** points **** ****** ******* ******* *** ********* ***** ****** ** able ** ****** *** *******, ** **** **** **.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Brian Karas | 08/24/17 10:08pm

...****** ***** ** ***** **** ****** ** *** ***** ******* Based ** ******).

*** **** ** ** * ****** ****** ** **** ********* work ** ******* ******** ** ;)

Undisclosed #3

08/24/17 10:56pm

********* *** ******** ** *** ********** ** *** ********** ******, as ** **** **** ** *** ********* ****:

** ********** ********* ******* **** ******* *** ***********,either ******* ** ********* ** ******** (*********, ****) ** ***** ********.

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 08/25/17 08:15am

***, *** ** **** ****:

******** ********, ******* *** ********** ********** *** ********* ******* ** a ****** ******** ******* *** ********* ******* ********* *****.

**** ** *** *** ********** *** "***** ** *******" *** of ****.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Brian Karas | 08/25/17 01:17am

**** ** *** *** ********** *** "***** ** *******" *** of ****.

* ***'*.

*** * *** *** **** ******* ***-******** ******* *** ******** that * **** ** * ****** **** *** ******* ******* monitoring ******* ** * ***** ******* ***** *********** ** * VMS ****, (**** ****** ** *** **** ** ***** *** do **** ************* *******).

**** **** ******** ******** ******** ** ** '** ****** ****' and ***** *** **** **.

** ***** ** **** ** ********* ****'* **** **** ********* statement ** *** ***********, ** ******'* **** ****** '** ****** hack' **** *** ****.

*****/********?

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 08/24/17 08:52pm

**** **** ******** ******** ******** ** ** '** ****** ****' and ***** *** **** **.

**** ** **** ********* *** *****'* "************* **********" *** ***** able ** ****** *** *** ****** ***** ******?

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Brian Karas | 08/25/17 05:57am

**** ** **** ********* *** *****'* "************* **********" *** ***** able ** ****** *** *** ****** ***** ******?

********? ******* ** **** **** ****** **** *******:

*** *** ******** ******** ******* ****** *********-***** **********

***** ** ********* *******, ****** ***

  1. *** ***** ****** '******** *******'
  2. *** ******** ******* ***** **** *** *******
  3. **** ************** ****** **** *** ********* ***** **** ****:

*** ***** *** ******* ******** * *** ***** ***** ******** with * ******* ******* **** **** *** ******** ********* ******* and ***********, ******connected *******, ***** ** ********** *** ********* ** **-**.

***** *** ********** ***** ******, '******** *******' ******* '** ******' and '********' ******* '****'.

****'* **** *********?

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 08/25/17 10:58am

****'* **** *********?

**** ** *** ******** ***** ** *** ******: ****** *** hold ********** ** ** ***** ********* ** ******* ****** ******* did *** ** ****** ******** ** *** **** ********* ****** making ***** ******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Brian Karas | 08/25/17 11:44am

* ***** **** ****** ******** '*******' *** '** *******' **** though ** ****** ***** *** ********* *****, **** *** *********.

** **** ******** *** ***** ****** ********** *********, * ***** expect ************* **** **********.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Brian Karas | 08/26/17 09:58pm

**** ** *** ******** ***** ** *** ******: ****** *** hold ********** ** ** ***** ********* ** ******* ****** ******* did *** ** ****** ******** ** *** **** ********* ****** making ***** ******.

****, **** ******** ** *** ********** ***** ** *** ******. Rather, *** ***** **** *** "**** *********" ** *** ******* the ******** ***********, *** ********:

*** **** **** ***** ***** ** **** ** ******** ******* did *** **** **** **** ******* ****** ** ** * threat.

***, *** ****** ***** ** * ******* ** '** ****** research' ** *** ***. ******* ***** ** ***************** ** **** materials. ** ***, *** **** ****************** '******** *******' ** * ********* ****** ** *****, ***** confuses *** *****.

***********, ***** ******** ** ***** **** *** ******* ** *********** ***, ******* **** **** ******* ** ***, **** ************* options, *** ******* ********* *** ********** ** ***** ************ **************.

*****, * ***** **** '** ****** ****' ** ******* ** best *** ****** ** ****** ***, ******* ***** *** ******* misleading ******** ** *** **** ********* *** *** **** ********* that ****** ***** ***************** ** *** ****.

Rodney Thayer

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 08/30/17 10:25pm

* ***** **** **** *** ** *******. ***** ** ***** manipulating ***** ** * ****** ******** ** * ******** (** "installed ******".) * ***** *** ***** *** ********* "** ******" and "****** ** * ********** ** * **, ******* ********* to * *******/*** ********" *** ** *****.

** *** *** *** ***** ********** *** ************* **********. ***** account, *** *** *******, **** **** ***** ****'* ** **** directory. ******* * *** ******* ******** ******* *.* **. ******* interesting. ** ***** ******* ** **** ***** ***** *** ** to ***** *** *****. ** ******* **** ** *** **** walk ******* *** ******* **** ** **** *** **** ***** to ****** ***** ***** ** ******.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Rodney Thayer | 08/30/17 11:10pm

*** ***** * *** ****** ** *** **** (*** ** older *******) *** ****:

***** * ******* ***** ** *** ********** ** *** ** arbitrary ******* *****, **** ** *********'* ********.*********.*******.**** *** *******.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Axis: "No One Wants To Buy A Camera" on Nov 09, 2018
Axis has, in its own description, made a bold declaration: The industry is changing so rapidly that the following statement might seem bold but...
Winter 2019 IP Networking Course on Nov 05, 2018
This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals.  Lots of network training exists but none of it...
HID: Stop Selling Cracked 125 kHz Credentials on Nov 05, 2018
HID should stop selling cracked 125 kHz access control credentials, that have been long cracked and can easily be copied by cheap cloners sold on...
"New Zealand Govt Uses Chinese Cameras Banned In US", Considers Security Audit on Oct 12, 2018
Newsroom NZ has issued a report: "NZ Govt uses Chinese cameras banned in US": This comes after the US federal government banned purchases of...
China Hacks Video Servers Causing Uproar on Oct 05, 2018
An incident causing an international uproar is hitting home in the video surveillance industry as a Bloomberg report, "The Big Hack: How China...
Genetec Takes Aim At 'Untrustworthy' 'Foreign Government-Owned Vendors' on Sep 24, 2018
Genetec is taking aim at 'untrustworthy' 'foreign government-owned vendors'. This is not a new theme for Genetec as nearly 2 years ago, Genetec...
Hikvision FIPS 140-2 Cybersecurity Certification Examined on Aug 27, 2018
A week after the US government passed a law banning Hikvision, Hikvision announced it had obtained a FIPS 140-2 certification from the US...
Sony Gen 5 IP Cameras Critical Vulnerabilities on Jul 26, 2018
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities remain prevalent in video surveillance devices. Now Talos researchers have discovered multiple vulnerabilities in...
Hikvision Covers Up Racial Profiling And AI Error on Jun 25, 2018
Faced with global scrutiny, led by the US government-funded Voice of America (VOA), Hikvision has covered up evidence showing their racial...
Hikvision Corrects False Cybersecurity Announcement on Jun 18, 2018
Hikvision has corrected a false cybersecurity announcement that claimed a British government-sponsored program endorsed the cybersecurity of...

Most Recent Industry Reports

'Sticker' Surveillance Camera Developed (CSEM Witness) on Nov 16, 2018
The Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) has announced what it calls the: world’s first fully autonomous camera that can be...
ISC East 2018 Mini-Show Final Report on Nov 16, 2018
This is our second (updated) and final show report from ISC East. ISC East, by its own admission, is not a national or international show, billed...
Facial Detection Tested on Nov 16, 2018
Facial detection and recognition are increasingly offered by video surveillance manufacturers. Facial detection detects faces in an image/video...
Throughtek P2P/Cloud Solution Profile on Nov 15, 2018
Many IoT manufacturers either do not have the capabilities or the interest to develop their own cloud management software for their devices....
ASIS Offering Custom Research For Manufacturers on Nov 15, 2018
Manufacturers often want to know what industry people think about trends and, in particular, the segments and product they offer.  ASIS and its...
Hikvision Silent on "Bad Architectural Practices" Cybersecurity Report on Nov 14, 2018
A 'significant vulnerability was found in Hikvision cameras' by VDOO, a startup cybersecurity specialist. Hikvision has fixed the specific...
French Government Threatens School with $1.7M Fine For “Excessive Video Surveillance” on Nov 14, 2018
The French government has notified a high-profile Paris coding academy that it risks a fine of up to 1.5 million euros (about $1.7m) if it...
Integrator Credit Card Alternative Divvy on Nov 13, 2018
Most security integrators are small businesses but large enough that they have various employees that need to be able to expense various charges as...
Directory of Video Intercoms on Nov 13, 2018
Video Intercoms, also known as Video Door-Phones or Video Entry Systems, have been growing in the past decade as more and more IP camera...
Beware Amazon Go Store Hype (Tested) on Nov 13, 2018
IPVM's trip to and testing of Amazon Go's San Francisco store shows a number of significant operational and economic issues that undermine the...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact