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

IFSEC Show Report Day 2 Report on Jun 20, 2018
IPVM is live from London reporting on the IFSEC show. The Chinese have taken over the UK, centered on Hikvision, flanked by Dahua, Huawei and a...
Mobotix Releases 'Move' Into 21st Century on Jun 20, 2018
For years, Mobotix stood resolutely against, well, every other manufacturer, selling it as a virtue: MOBOTIX equipment is designed with no...
Cybersecurity Startup VDOO Disclosing 10 Manufacturer Vulnerabilities Starting With Axis And Foscam on Jun 20, 2018
Cybersecurity startup VDOO has uncovered significant vulnerabilities in Axis cameras along with many others not yet disclosed. In this report, we...
July 2018 IP Networking Course on Jun 19, 2018
The last chance to save $50 on registration is this Thursday, June 21st. Register now and save. This is the only networking course designed...
Axis Guardian - Cloud VMS And Alarm Monitoring - Released on Jun 19, 2018
Axis has struggled to deliver a cloud-based managed service video platform. Video service providers have utilized AVHS for over a decade, and have...
IPVM Vulnerability Scanner Released on Jun 18, 2018
IPVM is proud to announce video surveillance's first and only cybersecurity vulnerability scanner. This tool allows quickly and simply...
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...
The Dumb Ones: PSA's Bozeman On Cybersecurity on Jun 15, 2018
The smart ones are the hundred people who flew to Denver and spent $500+ on a 1.5-day conference featuring Dahua as a 'cyber responsible partner',...
Amazon Ring Launches $10 Monthly Professional Alarm Monitoring on Jun 15, 2018
Amazon's Ring has announced an alarm system with 24/7 professional alarm monitoring for $10 per month, a fraction of the $30+ per month traditional...
Axis Releases First New Access Controller In 5 Years (A1601) on Jun 15, 2018
It has been 5 years since Axis 2013 entry in the physical access control market, with the A1001 (IPVM test). Now, Axis has released its second...

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