Hikvision Responds To Cracked Security Codes

By: Brian Karas, Published on Aug 15, 2017

Hikvision has responded to IPVM's report on Hikvision's security code being cracked, both with a 2 page update to dealers and communication directly with IPVM.

In this note, we examine Hikvision's response, evaluating the positive and negative elements of it.

Good

On the positive side, Hikvision:

  • Revamped the password reset procedure to a method that is more challenging to crack
  • Has been releasing new recorder firmware that makes an improved method available to users

Bad

On the negative side, problems remain:

  • Hikvision knew about the cracked codes for a long time but never notified dealers until after IPVM published
  • The new method still cannot be disabled
  • The new method still risks being cracked

********* *** ********* ** IPVM's ****** ***********'* ******** **** ***** cracked, **** ***** * **** ****** to ********** ************* ******** **** IPVM.

** **** ****, ** examine *********'* ********, ********** the ******** *** ******** elements ** **.

****

** *** ******** ****, Hikvision:

  • ******** *** ******** ***** procedure ** * ****** that ** **** *********** to *****
  • *** **** ********* *** recorder ******** **** ***** an ******** ****** ********* to *****

***

** *** ******** ****, problems ******:

  • ********* **** ***** *** cracked ***** *** * long **** *** ***** notified ******* ***** ***** IPVM *********
  • *** *** ****** ***** cannot ** ********
  • *** *** ****** ***** risks ***** *******

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

Improved ******** ******** ** *********

******* *** ******** (*******) software *** ********** ***** codes *** *********** ****** the ******* ** ******* support ******, ********* **** the *** ******* ** centrally ****** ****** *** company, *** ****** ** more ******** **********. **** should **** ** ****** to ** ** ** leaked *** / ** cracked

New ******** **** ******

********* ****** *** *** method, ***** **** ***** to ** *** "**** key ******** ********" ** more ******, ****** **** did *** ******* ********* details, **** ** ** it *** ***** ** proven ********** ** ********** to * *********/******** ***** exchange.

*** ******* ******** ** similar ** ****** **** data ***** ********* *******, sent ** ********* *******, a **** ** **** is ******** *** **** code/file ******** * ******** reset.

***** *** ******** ******* was ***** ** *** device's ******* **** *** serial ******, *** *** method ******* ** ****** in ** ***** **** of *** *********, ***** on *** ********* ********* the *******:

  • ****** ****** ******
  • ****** ****
  • ******* ***** ******** ** admin ******** ***
  • ****** ** *** ******** or ****** ****** ******** at ******

*** ***** *******, *** possibly ***** ****, *** used ** **** * random *****-******* ******, ***** is **** **** ** Hikvision *******. ** ******* of **** ******, **** one ** *** **** units, ** ***** *****:

(**** *** ****** ****** is ********* ** ********* at *** *** ** the ******, ***** ***** it ****** *** ********* support ** ****** ** the **** ** ******** for *******)

******** ***** **** ********* support ** *** ***** of *** *** ******** and ****** **** **********, "9963844e" *** "********" ***** examples ** ****** ***** we ********.

*** ********* ******** **** is **** *** * days, ***** ******** ***** were ****-*******. *******, ********* states **** *** ***** are **** *** **** 1 ***, ***** ******** codes ***** ** **** an ********* ****** ** times *** * ***** date.

********* ** *********, *** reset **** ******** **** support **** ** ******* if *** ****** *** rebooted, ** *** ***** password ******* ***** *** device *********** ******.

No ******** ****** ******

** ******** ****** ** the ****** ** ****** to ****** ******* *** password ***** ********* ******, or *** *** ******** code ********* ** ********* to ***** *** ***** password. ********* ******** ************ for ***** ******* ****, ******-**** ********** ******* ***** ********* over * *******. **** makes ******* ********** ** anyone *** *** ****** the *** *** ******** is ******** **.

Firmware ******* *********

********* ****** ******** *.*.** and ***** (*.*., *.*.*, 3.4.92) ******* *** *** password ***** *********.

*********'* ******** ******** ********* **** ******* ********* for ********** *********, **************'* ***** ******* **** Support ********** ***** ******* ******** for **** ** *** recorders, ****** **** **** being ***** ***** ****'* report. ****: ********* ***** America ******* ***** ******** customers ** *** *** European ******** ** ***** can ** ******** *********** to *** *** *****.

No *********

**** *** *** ******, the *** ****** **** not ***** ********* **** password ***** **********. **** means **** ****** *** can ******** * ******'* serial ****** *** ******* to ****** * ******** reset ******* ** *********. If **** *** **** to ******** ********* ** generate * ***** **** (which ** ****** ***** their ************ / ********** is *******), **** **** can *** **** **** to **** **** *** device's ***** *******.

Still *********

** *** ***, ***** still ****** ** ********* within ********* **** *** take * ****** ** characters *** *** * computation **** ******* ** a *** ****** ** characters, ***** *** **** be **** ** **** out ** *** ***** password ** *** ******. Thus, *** **** ** still **** ** ** cracked, ******* ** ******** versions, *** ****/** *** code ** *******, ***** Hikvision ****** ** *** would ** ********** ** attack.

Failed ** ****** / ****

****** ********* *** ******* aware **** *** ******** reset ********* ** ******** versions *** ****, ******* and *********** ******, **** did *** **** ***** of ****, ** ******* the ******* ******** ** solving * ******** *****. Unfortunately, ********* *** * history ** **** ************** around ******** ***************, **** as ** ******-******.*** *************,********* ***** ** ******* being ****** **** ***** it *** **********, ********* *************. **** ************* ****** **************** **** ***** **** notified ********* **** ** were ***** ** ******* on **.

Overall - ************ *** **** ******

** *** ******** ****, Hikvision *** ***** ***** both ** *** ********* side *** *** ************* side ** ******* **** issue *** ****** *** chances ********* *** ******** an ***** ******** *****.

** *** ******** ****, Hikvision ****** **** ********* this ******* * **** time ***, ****** **** waiting *** ** ** be ******** ****** ***. Users ****** **** ** given * ****** ** opt-out ** ****** ***** devices ********** ** ***** codes. ****, *** *** method ** ***** ** risk ** ***** *******, and *** ***** ** requested ******* ********** ** authorization/ownership, ******* ***** ***** of ********* ********* *********** vulnerable.

*********'* ****** ** ********** to ***** ********, *** applicability ** ********** *** enterprise ********, *** *** be ***** ********* ***** security ***** **** ** non-destructive *******-***** ******** ****** exist ** ***** ********.

Comments (22)

John Honovich

IPVM | 08/15/17 03:35pm

********* *** * ********* here:

  • ** **** ***-******** ****** the ******** ** ***** security ***************, ********* ***** it **** **** ***** brand *** *********.
  • ** **** *** ** hide **, **** *** benefit ** ** *** else ******* ** **. But ** ******* **** reports ** **, ***** reputation **** ** **** more ******** ** ****** find **** ************* *** worry ***** **** **** is ***** ******.

* ***** ********* ** better *** ***** ***-****** and *****. *** **** is ** *** ***** thing *** ** ***** them ***** / ****** trust.

*** ** *** ***** Hikvision ****** ****** ***** issues?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

08/16/17 12:08am

* ***** ****** **** showing **** '********' ** not **** ** ***** agenda *** ***** * solid ****** ** ***** behind ******* *******, ******* it's '****' ** ***. It's ********** **** **** do *** ******* ** any *************** ***** **** time **** *** ********* by ****.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 08/16/17 04:52pm

*** * ***** *** after ****** ***** ******** classes ** ***** *** learning ***** ****** ****, I ***** ** ***** be ********** *** **** to ******* **** ******* in *******-******* ********/*******:

****://***.*****-****.***/*******-*******/*************-*******-****/****-**-****/

"** *** **, *** can ***** *** ********* for **** ************ *** gain ******* *** **** honest ******* ** ***** from *** ****. ********* are ********* ********* ** someone ***** ************** *** their ********.

"*** ********, ****** *** Presidential ***, ****** *. Bush ***** ****** ***** overcoming *** ********* ** alcohol. **** ** ********* that ** ******* ******** would **** ** **—** would ** * *********** loss ** **** *** almost ********** ** ******* from."

****** ****: * ** NOT ********* *********, *** hopefully **** *** **** some ******* ** *** they ***** ****** ** or *** ** ** something. **** *** ***** business ** ******* *** they **** ** ** privy ** *** ****** norms ** **** ******* both ******** *** *********.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 08/16/17 05:04pm

****, ****** *** ********* in *****.

******* *******:*****, ******** ** ******* Software, ***** **** ********** Attack

*** *******:*****’* ************ ******** ***** Must ****

*** *** *******:******* ********** ***** ** Churches **** ***** ************

***/*** ** ** **** than ****** ****** '****', but * *********** ******* conflict.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to John Honovich | 08/16/17 05:37pm

***, *** ********* ** who's ******? *** ***** think **** *****, ******, and ***** ***** ** accepted *****-**** ** ***** no ****** *** *********, but ****'* ****** *** the ****. ************* *** companies **** *** ********* to ****** ********* ** the ****** **** ** business **, **** **** be **** ** **** acts *** * **** Hikvision's ************* ** ** so ** ******* **** now (** **** ** US ******** ******* *** of *** ********* ********* as *** ******** **).

**** ** *** **** reporting ****, ** ******* to **** **** ****** goes **!

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 08/16/17 07:10pm

***, *** ********* ** who's ******?

**** ******** *** ************* debate, ** *** ****, Hikvision ***** ** ** in ******** ** *** West ***** ************* ****** are **** ***********. **** can '***********' ** ** risk *** ******** **** are ******. ** * practical ******, *** **** overall *** **** **** on *** *** *** so **** **** ** have ********** *** *** to *** ** **** do.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to John Honovich | 08/16/17 09:00pm

* **** ****** **** the *********.

Avatar

Mick Brown

08/16/17 07:31am

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

Undisclosed Integrator #2

08/16/17 03:33pm

* **** **** ***** device *** *** ** resetting *** ***** ********. It's **** *** ******* published ** *** ******** like *********.

*'** **** ** ** Burglar ***** ***** **** as *** *** ***. Hivivision ** ****** ** the ******** ***** *****, well ***'* ***** **, they *** *** ******* video ************ ** ******...

** * **** ****, TVT, *** ** ***** OEM ********, *** *** master ******** **** **** reset ***** ****** **** of *********. **'* * fact ***** *'** **** it ******. * ** not ***** ** ***** it ****** *** *** sake ** ***** ********. I ****** **** **** TVT ******* **** ** soon ** ********. **'* just ****** ** **** before **** **** ******, or ***** ** ******* has? ***

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | 08/16/17 03:52pm

* **** **** ***** device *** *** ** resetting *** ***** ********. It's **** *** ******* published ** *** ******** like *********.

**** ** *** *********** true, *** **** ***********, it ******* *** *** reset ** *********. *** example, ********* *****, *** Genetec ** ********** **** no *** ** ***** their *********, ********* ** statements **** **** *********.******* ******** *** **** to ** ******* **** to *** *******. *** can ***** ** **** is *** ******* ** not, *** ** **** ensure **** *** **** can *** ** ****** reset ****** *** *******.

***** ******* **** * physical ****** **** ***** to ** *******, ***** while *** ****** ** rebooted, ********* ******** ****** to *** ****, ******* of **** ******* ******, as ** *** **** with *********.

********* ***, ** **** to *********** **** *** will ****** ** **** we ****. ***** *** way *** **** ** a ***** ***** ** brands (***:********* **** ********** *** Cracked ******** ** **+ DVR ******), ** ***** ** a ********** ************* ** a ****** ******** ***** be **** ** ***** all ** ***** *******.

Marty Calhoun

IPVMU Certified | 08/16/17 05:21pm

"********* ** ********** **** both *********" **** **** with * ***** ** salt!

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Marty Calhoun | 08/16/17 05:42pm

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

********* ****** *** *** method, ***** **** ***** to ** *** "**** key ******** ********" ** more ******...

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Marty Calhoun | 08/16/17 05:57pm

**** **** **** * grain ** ****!

***? ** *** **** of * *** ** reset *** ***** ********* on ***** *******? ** you **** ** * history ** ******** ******** issues **** ***** *********? (not **** ****, *** on ****** ********** ***** such ******, ***.)

Undisclosed #5

08/16/17 05:46pm

** "********" *** "********" are ******** ** ***** codes, **** ** ***** like ** ***** ** an *-********* *********** ****** or * ***** **** code. **** ** ***** 4.2 ******* ******** ************ (fewer ** ***** ********* has **********). * ****** how ****** *** ******* are ******* * ***** force ******?

********* ****** ********* *** or **** ** *** following ** **** *****'* done ** *******

  • ***** ******** ***** ********** to * ***** **** frame ***** *** **** reboot, **** ******* ******** the ******** ** ***** force *******. **** ***** break ***** ******* ************** though ** ** ****** on **-****.

  • ******* * ****** (** a **** **** ****) if *** **** ************ attempts *** ****. **** already **** ******* ** too **** ****** ***** attempts *** ****, ** maybe **** ** **** already.

*****'* ***** *** ***** of ***** ***** ** algorithm ** ******** *** code. * ***** **'* a ***** ******* ** be **** ** ***** the ******* ** ******* access ** ** ***/*** without ****** ****, *** I ***** **** ****** absolutely ******* ******** ****** to *** ****. *** for ** ******* * would ****** **** * factory ***** *** ******** button ** *** ****** be *** **** ****** to ******* ******.

Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Undisclosed #5 | 08/16/17 10:33pm

*** ***** *****? *** "Magic_Number" ** ******* *** in *** **** *** their *** ******** ***** tools. ** *** *** hit *** *** ** the ** ****** **** you *** *** **.


****://******.**/*****/************************.**
Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #7 | 08/16/17 10:51pm

***** *** ****** **** to ** **** **** the '***** ******', *** magic ****** *** ******** with ***** **** **** the ******, *** **** the ****** ********* ** type-able ***** **********.

*** *** ****** ******* uses * ********* ******* approach, **** *** ****** is **** *********. **** could ** ***** *** same '***** ******' (*** I ******* **** *** not), *** ****** ***** elements *** ********* **** existing ****/*******/******* ******* ****** help.

Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Brian Karas | 08/16/17 11:03pm

* *** ***** *** misconception **** ** *** talking ***** *** *** code. ** *********.

** *** *** *** password ***** ****** ** is ***** *** **** BS ** ** ******. It ** **** **** security ****** ********* *** sooner ** ***** ******* will **** *** *** algorithm *** ** **** be ***** **** ** square ***.

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #7 | 08/16/17 11:07pm

** ** **** **** security ****** *********

***** ** **** *********** from *********, * ***** tend ** ***** **** you. **** ** *** I ***** **** ****** need ** ***** ** some ***** (*** ** comment *****) ** **** they **** ****** *** crackability *******, *** **** a ********* **** ** is *** *********.

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #5 | 08/16/17 11:02pm

** *******, *** ******** used **** ****** ****** from ***** ******** ** performed. ***** *** * third *** * ****'* publish, *** ** ******** the **** ******. *** 3 ** **** *** a ****** *****-**** ****** at *** *** ** the ****, *** **** the ******* **** ** of * ******.

***** *** ********* * lot ** ******** ***** the *** ******, ****** some ******* *** ** easy ** ********* **** some ****** *******.

* ******* ***** ******* brute-force *******. *** *** question ** *********** ***** if *** ******** ***** request '***** * ***' that ***** *** **** ready ** ****** * reset ****, ** ** a ****** **** *** randomly ******* ***** *** unit ****** **?

** *** **** ***** accept * ******* **** without *** '*******', ** makes ** * *** more *********** ** * distributed ***-*** ******. ***** of * **** ** Mirai **** ** *** a **** ** ********* IP's, *** **** ****** picks * ****** **** and ****** **, *** tries ****. **** **** timeouts, *******, ***, **** would ****** ******* ** a **** ****** ** devices **** ****. **** feedback ***** **** **** be *********** **** ** crack *** *********.

** *** ******* ********, where ********* ******* *** to ******** ******* ** what ******* ***** *** password ***** ******** *********, I ***** **** ****** this **********, **** ** ability ** ******* **, hurts ****. ** ** too **** *** ****** to ******* ********* ********* that ***** **** ** another ****-****** *******, *** thus ****** **** *********'* products *** *** ******** for ***** ************.

********* * *********** ***-****** could **** ******* **********. Offer $**,*** ** ****** that *** ***** *** new ********* ** * show ** *****.

Undisclosed Integrator #6

08/16/17 06:40pm

@ *****. *****'* ******* series *** ********* **** Milestone *** *******. ****, some ** *** ********* DVRs/NVRs *** ** ***** to ********* ******* *****. So ** ***** *** remote ***** ***** ***** or ********* **** *** not ********* ** *** external ******* (** ********), but ***** *** ****** to * ******* ******* Centre ******* ********* ** Genetec, ** ***** * Security *******?

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #6 | 08/16/17 07:09pm

** ** ***** *** remote ***** ***** ***** or ********* **** *** not ********* ** *** external ******* (** ********), but ***** *** ****** to * ******* ******* Centre ******* ********* ** Genetec, ** ***** * Security *******?

***, ***** ** ***** a ******** *******. ** someone *** *** *** admin ******** ***** *** take **** * ********, then **** **** ****-***** access ** * **** component ** *** ******** network. **** **** *** can *********** ******* ***** information (** ********* ** servers, ***** *********, ***.) and *** **** ** attack ***** ********** ** the *******.

*** *********** **** *** describe, (****** *****, *** of ******-***** *****), *** organizations **** ** ** larger, *** **** ** internal ******* (***** *********) also *********. **** ******** threat ** ********* **** a ***** ******-******** **** directly ********* ** *** internet, *** * ***** a ******.

Undisclosed Integrator #8

08/17/17 02:13am

* ***** * ***-**** post ********** "*** *******" in *** **** ******.

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