Interview With Researcher Who Cracked Security Of 70+ DVR Brands

Author: Brian Karas, Published on Jul 07, 2016

The researcher who found an exploit in 70+ brands of TVT OEM DVRs, which he suspected to be the entry point hackers used to gain access to several retailers, elaborated on these hacks to us.

We got in touch with Rotem Kerner, previously a security researcher at RSA, and now co-founder of security research company Cybewrite to discuss the exploitability of embedded security devices.

*** ********** *** ******* ******* ** **+ ****** ** *** *** ****, ***** ** ********* ** ** *** ***** ***** ******* used ** **** ****** ** ******* *********, ********** ** ***** hacks ** **.

** *** ** ***** ********* ******, ********** * ******** ********** ** ***, *** *** **-******* of ******** ******** ****************** ******* *** ************** ** ******** ******** *******.

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

Old **** ******* *** * ***** ******

****** **** **** ** ***** ************* ** ******** ******* **** routinely "****** ** *** **** **** *** * *** ** people *** ****** ** **** ****". ******** ** ***** ******** devices **** ***** ******* ** ***** *******, ******** ******* *** recorders *** *** **** ****** ** **** ***** ********, *** accessible ** ********, ****** ************* **** ********* ***** ***** ********.

Now ****** ********

*** ******* ******* *** *********** *******, ******** ******* **** ***-***** targets, ** ***** ** ***** *** **** *** *****. **** the ******* **** ** ** ****** ******* *** ********* ********** of ********-********* ******* **** **** ****** *********, *** ****, *******.

Worse ** ***** ******* ** ********

** ***** ******* ***** **** ** *** **** **** ****** and ******** **** ******* *** ************* *** **********. **** *** make *************** ***** ** *** ****** *********** ********** ** ***** brands/products ***** *** **** ******** ******** *********. ******* ****** ************* report ****** ******* ******* ** ******** ****** ****** *** ******* ****** ********.

How *************** *** *****

***** ***** ****** ** *********** ******** ******, *** ***** ***** like********* ********* **** *** **** ** *** *** ***** ** the ********. **** **** ******** ** *** ************ ********** ** scanning * ****** ************ *** **** ***** *** ****** ******** methods ******* *************** ************.

********* ** **** ** *** *** *****, ************* *** ******** ***** ********, **** ********* * ********* full ** ******/*****. **** ******* *** ** *********** ********* **** the ******* ** ******* ***** ** ******* ** ********* ** deployed ******* **** **** ** ******.

Two ****** ******* ** ******* ********

** ******* *** ** ********* ** * ****** ** ******* root ** ***** ****** ** * ***** ******* *** **** downloading **** ******** **** *** **** **** * ****** ******. This ****** ******** *** ****** ** ** **** ** *** network ****** ** *** **** (****** *******, ** **** *** internet). ** *** *** ******* ** ***** **** ** ** done ******* *** **** ****** ** ** ********, *** ********** the ******* ** ********** ******** ** ******* ******** ** ***** that *** ********** ********.

******* *** ** *** ** ******* **** * **** ** by ********* *** ******** *** *** ****** **** *** *** exploit ***** **, *** **** ********* **** ******** **** *** unit. **** *** **** ** **** ********, ** *** ****** can *** *** *** *** **** ** ******* *** ******** themselves. *** *** ** ******** * **** ** ******* *********** firmware ** ** **** *** ******** ********* *** ********, *** then **** ** ***** **** ******* ** **** **** *** manufacturers ******* ********** ********** * ******** ******.

Securing **** *******

** ** ********** ** ***** ****** * ****** ********* ** the ********, *** *** *** ****** **** ******* ** ****** by ********* ***** **********:

  1. ****** ******* *********, *** ********* ** *** ****** ****** **. Simply ******** "*****" ** "*****" **** **** **************** **************.
  2. **** ******** ******** ***** **** ************* ********, ***** **** **** not ********* ***** *** *** ***********, ** **** ****** *** chances ** ******* ***** ********.
  3. **** ******** ******* ** ******* *** ******** **** ***** ****, assuming **** *** ************ ** ******* ** **** ******** *******.
  4. ***** *** ** *********/******** **** *** ****** **** *********, ** better *** ***** ****** ******** ****** *** ******* *** ***.

** *** ********** ******** *************************, ********** ******** ****** ** ******* *** ****** **** ** exploit.

What ************* *** **

******** ****** *** *** ******** **** *** ******** ********** *** the **** ****** ******* ** *******. ******* ** ***** ****** is ****** ****** ** ********** *** *****, *** ** ***** used ** ******* ** **** ****** ** *** ******.

************ ******** ********* ******** ****** ************ ******* * ***** ****** vector. **** ******* ** *** ****** *** ********* ** ******** files ****** ********** ****, ******** ********* ** ****** ***** ******** images ***** *** **** ***** ******* **** *********** ******* ****** nodes.

********** *** ******** ***** *** **** **** ** **** ********* for ******* ** ********* **** *** ***** *** **** *** exploitable **********.

Comments (19)

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 07/07/16 02:46pm

**** *******. ** ** *** ******* *** ******** *** **** practices, ***** ***** ** ***** **** ****** ** *********. *************, of ******, **** * ***** **** ****, *** *********** **** to ** ***** **** ***. **** ****'* ****** ** ******. Sometimes * ****** ***** ** ** ****** ******. *********** *** access ** **** ****** ****** ****** *** ********** ******* ** it ** *********.

Undisclosed #1

07/07/16 04:29pm

**** **!

******** ***** **** ******:

**** ******* *** ** *********** ********* **** *** ******* ** created ***** ** ******* ** ********* ** ******** ******* **** over ** ******...

** ******* *** ** ********* ** * ****** ** ******* root ** ***** ****** ** * ***** ******* *** **** downloading **** ******** **** *** **** **** * ****** ******.

***'* *** '*******' *** ******* ** '**** ****' ** *** first *****?

****** ** ** **** *** *** ******, "**** *** ** stolen ** ***** *** *** ** ***** *** ******."

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 07/07/16 04:42pm

***'* *** '*******' *** ******* ** '**** ****' ** *** first *****?

** **** *****, ***. ** **** **** * *** ********* more ** *** ******* ***** *** ********** **** **** *** uploaded ** *** ****** *** **** ******** ** *** ******. But **** *** *** ** ******* ****/***** ****** ** **** a **** ** *******.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 07/07/16 04:43pm

***'* *** '*******' *** ******* ** '**** ****' ** *** first *****?

*********, *** ** * *** **, *** ******* ** **** unauthorized "****" ** *** ****. *** "*******" ** *** ******/****** you ****/**** (******* *********) ** * ****** ** ******* ************ access-often ********** *******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 07/07/16 05:26pm

*** "*******" ** *** ******/****** *** ****/**** (******* *********) ** a ****** ** ******* ************ ******-***** ********** *******.

********. ****** **** ***** ***** ** *** ****** ************* ** the **** '*******', * ***'* ***** **** ** *** ***** meaning ** *****-********.

*** ******** ** * *** * ***** ***** ******** ******* to **** **** ** * ****** *** **** * **** a *** ** *** *** ****** **** *******, *** ******* is ***** ***** ******** ******, *** ******* *****.

**** ***** *****, ***** ********* *** ******* ***** ** *** number ** ******, **** ***** ** **** **** *** *** root.

** **** ********** ****, *** ****** ** "******* ** *******" is ******* **** **** *** **** ****** ******. **** ** the ***** *******.

Undisclosed #2

07/07/16 04:47pm

**** *** *** ** *** *** *********** **** * ********** thought *** **** ********* *** **** *************. * ***** *** out ** **** *** *** ** ***** ** *** **** kind ** ******** ** ****.

jason oneal

07/08/16 11:41am

** ***** * *** ** **** ** * ****** *** already **** ***********? ** **** ********** *** **** ********* ** latest ******** ********* *** ***** **** ****** ** *** ******?

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to jason oneal | 07/08/16 12:39pm

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

*** ********* ******** ****** ** **** ***** ** ** *** to **** *** **** ** * ****** *** **** ***********, especially **** ** ***** ** ****** **** ******* ***** ***** like************* *** *** *******.

********** * ****** **** **** ***** ****-********** ******** ** **** cases, ** ***'* **** *** *** ***** ******** **** *** been *****.

*** **** **** ** **** *** **** ******* *** ******** contains * ******** *****, ********* ****** *** *** ********** *****/******** needed ** *** *** ****** ** ********. ********* **************** * ******** **** *** ********* *** *******. *******, **** like ************* ******** *** ** ***** ****** * ******** *******, so ***** ********* ******* ** *** ******* **** ************ ************* and ********** *** ********* ** *** ****** *****.

* ** *** ***** ** *** ** *** ***** ***** malware ******** ** ******* *** ********* ** ** *** ***** where ** *** ******* ****** * *****/******* *** * ******** upgrade, *** ** ** *********** ******** *** **** ** *****. Hopefully ** **** *** **** ******** ******** *** **** ******** implemented ** ************* ****** *** ******* *** ***** ** **** in **** ******.

Andrew Tierney

In reply to Brian Karas | 04/08/17 09:13am

*'** *** ********* *** **** **** ******* ******* * ******** upgrade. **** ******** ******* ***'* ***** *** **********.

Michael Henderson

07/12/16 03:24pm

*********** *** ****** ******, ***** ** ** **** ** **** selling *** *** *** **** *** ***** ********* ******* *** networks **** ****** ******** ** ****. *** ****, **** ***** we *** ******** ** ** ** *** *********.

*********** **** ** **** ***** ***** ********* *** ***** ******* the ******* ******** ** *** ********. ** *** ***** *** so ***** *********, ** ** **** ** ******* **** ****** to **** ****** ******** ********* ***** ***** ********.

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | In reply to Michael Henderson | 07/12/16 03:36pm

***** * ***** ** ******* **** **** **********, * ***** like ** **** ***** ****** *** ****** **** ********, ** your *******?

Thumbnail marty2016

Marty Calhoun

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Michael Henderson | 04/08/17 12:39am

** **** *** ***** ** '*** *** ****', ** *** mean **** ****** ***** = ***** ******?

Michael Henderson

07/12/16 03:47pm

** ***'* *** ******, *** **, *** *** *** ******* are ********. ******* **** *** *********' ** ****** *** ***** exploits, ********* ******** ********. ** *** *** ****** *****, * system **** ** *** ********* ** *** ********, ****** ** cases ** ******* *** ***********.

*******, ***** ****** **** ****** *** ***** * *** *** can **** ** ******** **** ******* *******, *** ** *** maintaining * ******** ** **** *** ******** *** ****.

******* **** ********* ***** ******** ** ****** ** ***** ********* exploits ** **** ** *** *** ********* *********** **** **** at **** ********* * ***.

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | In reply to Michael Henderson | 07/12/16 04:02pm

*** *** **** ** ******** "********* ***'* ******** ** ****** to ***** ********* ********" ** **** *** ***'*?

Michael Henderson

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 07/12/16 05:32pm

**** *** *****, * *** ** **-******* **** **** **** due *********. * **** ******* * ****, *** ******* * do ***. *** ******* **** *********** ** ********* * **** in ***** *** ***** ** * ************ ********,.

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | In reply to Michael Henderson | 07/12/16 06:04pm

******! :)

* ****** * **** ***** *****!

Michael Henderson

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 07/12/16 06:07pm

******** ****. ***** ** **** **** *******, *** * **** do *** **** **** ****.

Thumbnail marty2016

Marty Calhoun

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 04/08/17 12:42am

***** *** ***, *** *** *** **** ** *** **** for ****! ******** **** ***** *** **** ***** ** *** of *** "***-***********" ** **** ****.

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | 04/07/17 03:35pm

***** ** * *** ****** ***** ********, ****** "*******", **** looks ** ** ********* *** *** *******. ** *** ~***,*** vulnerable ******* **** **** **********:

*** ***/***** ******* ******* ****, ***** ******

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.

Most Recent Industry Reports

Save $50 - IP Networking Course September 2017 on Aug 16, 2017
Tomorrow, Thursday, August 17th is the last day to save $50 on the September IP Networking Course. This is the only networking course designed...
Hikvision Responds To Cracked Security Codes 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...
Stolen Video NVR / DVR Statistics on Aug 15, 2017
"But what happens if someone steals my recorder?" Anyone who has done more than a handful of jobs has probably heard this question several times....
Hikvision Europe Cutting Out Unauthorized End User Sales on Aug 15, 2017
The days of anyone buying Hikvision from anywhere off the Internet are numbered, at least in Europe, if Hikvision's plan comes to fruition. In...
Axis Laser Focus PTZ Tested on Aug 14, 2017
Axis has been touting its new Q6155-E laser focus PTZ as 'always in focus' and 'always in color'. Does it really deliver? We bought and tested...
Vulnerability Directory For Access Control Cards on Aug 14, 2017
Knowing which access credentials are insecure can be unclear, especially because most look and feel the same. Even the most insecure 125 kHz types...
IP Camera Specification / RFP Guide 2017 on Aug 14, 2017
RFPs are hard. Do them 'right' and it takes a lot of knowledge and time. Do them 'wrong' and you can be (a) unwittingly locked into a specific...
Cellphone Usage Issues For Integrators (Statistics) on Aug 11, 2017
Cellphones clearly offer significant advantages in communication and problem solving. But they can also be a major pain point if employees...
Rebooting IP Camera Statistics And Practices on Aug 10, 2017
Dahua cameras automatically reboot weekly, by default. Is this an innovation by the Chinese mega-manufacturer or a sign of a problems? 125...
Avigilon Profits Surge, Stock Jumps (Q2 2017) on Aug 10, 2017
Avigilon said earlier this year they would shift their strategy to maximizing profits. Now, they are delivering it and the stock market is...

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