Verkada Global Admin Vs Hikvision Backdoor

By John Honovich, Published Mar 29, 2021, 10:52am EDT

Which one was worse? And what does this say about video surveillance cybersecurity?

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In 2017, Hikvision's backdoor shook the industry. Now, in 2021, Verkada's "global admin access" lead to a breach that made global news.

Untrustworthy

Both companies proved to be untrustworthy as these were the consequences of dangerous and unethical design decisions. Many 'hacks' are the result of exploiting obscure or unseen coding patterns that the provider did not foresee. These were not.

With Hikvision and Verkada, both of these companies put these in on purpose, hiding them from the public until outsiders publicized, forcing the companies to make changes after years of secretly including them.

Hikvision ********

********* ****-***** * ***** string ******** ****** ******** of ** ****** ****** that **** ******** ** requests ** *** ****** allowed ***** ****** ******* logging ** ** **** knowing **** *** ******** was.

**** ************ **** ** the ***** ***** ******** below:

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

******* *** * **** more ********* '********', ** what ******* *** ********* as "****** ***** ******', which *** **** ******* access ** *******, ** allowed ****** ** **********, analytics, **** **** ** the ********** ** ** the *******.

** *** ***** *****, Verkada ****** *** ********* removing '****** ***** ******', at ***** ******:

Cloud ******* ** ***

*** *********** ********** ******* these *** *************** ** that ********* *** ******** in ******** **** *** not *****-*******, ********* **** end **** ** ****** the ******** ** ****** the ************* ***** *******, being ***** *******, *** able ** ****** *** device's ******** *** ** once.

Dangers ** ***** / ******* ***** *****

**** *****-******* *******, *** provider *** *** ** their ********* ******** **** want. *** **** **** is *** **** *** chance **** *** ******** can ********** ***** **** the ******** ** ****** on ****. **** ** not ******* ******* **** granularly *** **** ** one ****, * ******** would ***** **** ** prove *** ******* *** nefarious *** *** ****** a ****** **** ** managing *** ****** (***** an ************* ******** ***** certainly *****).

*** ****** ** * cloud ****** ** **** once ********, *** ******** can *********** ** ******* to ***** *** ******** / ***** ******, ********* the ******** ** *** lying ** ********* ***** that (***** ***** ***** be **** ** ******).

Dangers ** *** ***** / ********* ********

**** ******* **** *** not ***** *******, * general ***** ***** **** the ******** ** ******* in ***'* ************ **** a ******** *****-**. ***** and ****** *** ******** is ******* ** ****** the ********, *** ******** will ******, *** ****** or *****. ********, ******** one ******** *** ********, the **** ****** ** a *** ******** ***** implanted **** ******** *** remain ******* *** ***** if ** ***** *** backdoor ** ***** *** a ******** ****** ******** it ** *******.

Verkada ********

*** **** ****** ******* of ******* ***** ******* is ****, *** *****, they **** ******** ***** marketing ** *** ******* that **** *** *********** and ***** ******* *********** are ***** *** *********,*** *******:

IPVM Image

***:

IPVM Image

*** ******* ******** '*********' and '*****? *****. *** American ******* ****** ******** 'DANGEROUS' *** '*****'? ** 'Tricky-Verk' *****, ***, **** are.

Which ** *****?

*** **** ****** *** with **** *********.

** *** *** ****, at ***** **** *********, you *** *** ** barricade / ***** /********** ****** **** *** Internet ***, ** *** do ** ********* *** never ************* ***** ****** connectivity *** *** ** sure *** **** *** be ******** ** ******** adversaries, *** ***** ** ok. ** ******, **** is ** *** ******* of ****** ** ********* or ********** *** ****** and *****-***** ****** (*.*., police ** ** *********).

***********, ********* *** **** offers *****-******* ***** ************ (e.g., ***-*******) *** ** you *** ***** **** the **** **** ** Verkada - *** *** trust **** ********* **** not ****** ** ***** others ** ****** **** video?

Trust *********

***** ** *********, ** one *** **** ** certain **** * ******** is *** ******* * Hikvision ** * *******. Often ******, ******* ***, "Show ** *** ***** that ******* * *** a ********?" ** ******, when ***** ** ***** made ******, *** ******* fixes ** (** ****** because **** **** ** unsolved ******** ** * threat ** ********). *** proving **** *************** ** hard *** ********* *** hide **** *** ***** (as ********* *** ******* both *** ****). *** can ***** ** ******* that ********* ** ******* or **** ** ******** or ***** ** ******, etc. **** *** ***** new *********. *** **** to ** **** ** trust **** **** **** job, **** ************'* ******, and, ** **** *********, even ******'* *****.

Vote / ****

Comments (28)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

03/29/21 03:05pm

* **** *** * VSaaS *******.

* ***** **** *** Verkada ****** *** ***** than ********* ******* ********* could ** ********** ********* with ******* *** ***** be *******. **** ********* customers********* ********** ******, **** if **** ****'* ********* do **.

*** ** ******* **** Hikvision ********* ****'* **** their ***** ******** ***** Verkada ***. ** ** me, **** ***** ** worse *** ******* ** well.

Agree: 24
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Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 03/29/21 05:52pm

**** ** **** **** bad, *** ***** ********* hard-coded *** ******** * would ******** ** ***** a ****** *****? * personally *** *** ******* that ********* *** ****, but ****'* ****** ****** Verkada ** **** **** huge ** * ****. Verkada ***** ** ** more ** ******** ** negligence ** ******** ****** controls. * ***'* ***** either *** :)

Agree: 1
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Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 03/29/21 11:27pm

** ***'* * ****...

Agree: 3
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Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 03/29/21 03:13pm

Agree: 7
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Undisclosed Integrator #3

03/29/21 04:44pm

** ***** *** ************* exist ** **** ******** standalones ***/***'*, *** *** servers **** ***** **** feature *** ** ********, although *** ***** ** the ******* ** ******. These ******* *** ***** providers *** *** **** access ** *** ******* is ****** **, ***** the ** **** ** serial ****** **** ******* with *** *****, ** even * '*******' ** at * **** ***** in *** ********. *********'* QR ************* **** ***** the ********** ******** ******** by ********* ** ***** OEM's. ** *** **** verified ** ***** *******, even **** *** ******* only **** ******* *** access.

******** ******* *** ***** based ******* ********* ****** access ** *** ******* can *** ******* ****. The ******* *** ***** OEM ******** ** **** from ********* ** *****.

***** ***** ******* *** provide '*** **** **' access. ** * ****** obtained, ** ****** ******** server ** ** **** (as ******** **** *******), access ** **** ** possibly *** ****** *******/*******/******** is ******.

***** ********* *** ***** targets *** ******* *******, as * ****** ** address ******** ****** ** many *******. **** **, cloud ******* *** **** likely ** ******* **** level ****** ** *** network ** ***** *** system *******.

**** *** *** ******** risks. ***** ******* *** IOT ******* ******* **** risks ** ******** ***** wide. *** ******** ***** to ******* **** *****, and ********* **** ********* and **********.

** *** **** ****, Dual ****** ****** *** a **** *****, *** as **** ** *** backdoor ****** ** ****** firmware ** **, ***** is ****** * ****.

* ***-************ ** ******** reliant ******* ***** ** to ********* *** ****** access *****. ** *** be * **** ** manage, *** ***** ** worth ***********.

Agree: 1
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Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 03/29/21 11:25pm

***** ** ****** ********* engineered **** *** *******-*****... MFG - " **'** incorporated * ***** *********** related ********** ** **** spec. ** ***** ** fact, ***** ** ** need ** ******** **." OEM -" **, **, our **** **** ***** be **** ******** ** it ****** *****? ** problem"

Agree
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Funny: 1

Undisclosed Integrator #4

03/29/21 05:09pm

***** *** *** "**** were *** ****** ******** of *****" ******?

Agree: 8
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Informative: 1
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Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 03/29/21 11:19pm

******* "********" ****. * would **** * "***** in ******* ******" **** we ****** *** "******/**" box ***** ******/** *****'* fit, ** ******, * properly *********** ****.... *'** re-read *** ******** *** response-options ***** **** ** be **** **** * could **** **** ******* didn't ***** ** ****.

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Undisclosed Integrator #3

03/29/21 06:06pm

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

***** ** *** ************* an ***** **** ** not ******* ** ***** products. *** **** ********** is ******** ****** ******* providing ******* ****** *******, Security, *** ************* ******* provided ** **********, *************, industrial, **********, *** ******* consumers.

******, ******, ****, *** many ****** ******* ‘*****’ products **** *** ** Code ***/** ************* ********** that *** ****** ********* and ***** *** ***** network *******, ** ***** to ******* ‘**** ******’ to ***** *******. ** is *********** ****** ** use, *** ** **** requires ********** ***** **** each ************ **** ***** that ****** ** **** providing *** ******* ********.

** *** **** **** nothing ** ***** ****. Collection ** **** ** big ********. ***** *** the ******** ***** ** the ***** ********, ** provided **** *** ******* explaining *** ********* ***** to *******.

*** ******** ******** *** millions ** ********* ***** wide **** ****** **** ‘easy ******’ ** ***** to ** **** ** monitor *** ******* ******* that *** ** **** networks **** ********** *** private ***********. *** ***** suspect **** *** ********* providing ***** ******** **** have *** **** **** vetting, *** ********** ******* risks ********** **** *** these *******.

** ***** ** **** for **** ** ** an ******* **** ******** how **** ********** *****, the *****, *** ********. Also ** **** ******* provide *********** ** *** integrators, *** *** ***** might ******** *** **** when ***** ******** **** apply ***** ************.

Agree: 2
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Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 03/29/21 11:14pm

***, ** * ****'* already **** **** * didn't ***** ** #*, I ***** **** ******* your ******** *** ****. Good ********.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

03/29/21 06:22pm

*** *** **** **** since *** ******-**** **** on ******* ***** ****** control *** **** ***********?

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Undisclosed End User #11

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #6 | 03/30/21 07:34pm

******* **** *** **** watched ******* ** ***** St. ****’* ********, ** Arizona, *** **** **** able ** *** * detailed ****** ** *** used ******* ****** ******* cards ** **** ******* doors, *** **** **** did **.

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

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Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Undisclosed End User #11 | 03/30/21 09:35pm

"******* **** *** **** watched ******* ** ***** St. ****’* ********, ** Arizona, *** **** **** able ** *** * detailed ****** ** *** used ******* ****** ******* cards ** **** ******* doors, *** **** **** did **."

**** *******. ****'* *** it ** *** *******-**** or * ********* *********....**** not ** *** ***** agency... * **** ********.

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Undisclosed Integrator #7

03/29/21 11:10pm

** *****'* ****** ***** one ** *****; **** of ** ** ****. Many **** (*** **** video ********/********* ***'*) *** doing **, **** **** happened ** **** ****** caught. ****.

Agree: 2
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Undisclosed End User #8

03/30/21 01:32am

******* ** ********** ***** because ***** ** ** way ** ****** ******* it ***** *** ******* cannot ** ******* **** the ***** ******. *** TruHikVision ******* **** ******* from *** ***** **** day ***, ***** ** ACLs *** ***** ** putting **** ** ******* vlans **** ** ***** to/from *** *****. *** dual *** **** ******** as ******* ***** ** view **** ***** ** the ******* ******* *** the ****** *********** *** is ****** ****** *********** ACLs ** **** ******* VPN ****** *** **** limited ****** ** ********* on *** ******** *** can ***** *** **** or *** *** *******. So **** ** *** NVRs ********** **** * backdoor *** **** ** bad ****** ***** **** to **** **** ******* employees **** ******, ****** and ******* ** ********* or ** ******** *** manages ** ********** ********** a ********** ** *** private ***. *********, ******* we ***** *** ****** (Hik ** **** **...) is ** ****** ******* since ** *** ********* from * **** **** trust ***** ******.

* ****** ** ****** this ***** **** ************ our *********** *** ***** both ********* *** ******* as **** ** ****** support.

Agree: 1
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Informative: 2
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Undisclosed End User #10

In reply to Undisclosed End User #8 | 03/30/21 03:43pm

* ********** *** ***** video ***** ** ***********, but * ****** ** local ***** ***** **** have *** ******** ** security, ******* ****** ********* it. ** ***** ** a **** ******* ** firewall ** ***** ******* at ***** * ** prevent ***-*** ******** ******** traffic. * ***'* **** the ***** ** ****, and ** **** ********* if **** ** **** an ******** ** ********?

Agree: 1
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Andrew Myers

In reply to Undisclosed End User #10 | 03/30/21 04:26pm

******** *** ** ** illusion ** ******** ** it ***'* ********** ********. With ******* *** **********, it's ** ** *** to ********* ********. **** devices ******* **** ***********, it's ** ** **** to ********* ** ********. Outsourcing ** * ***** strategy ** *** **** of ******* ********* ** too ****. *** ** sure ***'** *********** ** the ***** ************.

** *** **** *** resources (*********, *****, *********), local ********** ****** *** to ******* **** *** beyond ******** ***** *** possibly *****. *** *** setup *********, *****, ****, manage *******, ******* *** traffic ****, *** ** reasonably **** **** ** one *** *********** **** video ******. **** ***** video, *** *** *** do ** ***** *** provider. *** *** ***** know *** ******* **** your ******** *****'* **** an ******** ***** ******** your *****.

Agree: 3
Disagree
Informative: 2
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Undisclosed Integrator #9

03/30/21 12:46pm

* ***** ******** ** worse ** ** *** 100% ***********.

******* *** **** ****** poor ********** *** *********. Bad ******** *** *** intentional.

Agree: 1
Disagree: 4
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Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #9 | 03/30/21 09:05pm

"******* *** **** ****** poor ********** *** *********. Bad ******** *** *** intentional. "

*** *** **** ***** that? ** ********** (** years ** ** ** many **********, **** ****** and ******* *******), ***, and ******* ********, *** otherwise ** **.....

Agree
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Undisclosed End User #8

03/30/21 12:51pm

*** ** *******'* ****** admin, *************?

Agree: 3
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Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Undisclosed End User #8 | 03/30/21 01:02pm

******** *** ***** ***** account *** * ******* server *** ****** *** intentional. ********* ** ********. They **** **** * blog **** **************** ** ***** ** bashing *** ********* *** there, *** **** **** that *** **** ******.

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Undisclosed End User #8

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 03/30/21 01:10pm

** * ***. *** vulnerability *** ****** ** trust *** ***********, ** was *** ******** ** the ***** ***** ******** that *** *************. ******'* that ** **** ** the ********* ********? ********* didn't *** **********, *** they?

Agree
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Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Undisclosed End User #8 | 03/30/21 09:12pm

****** ** ***** *** unintended. **** ****** ****** your *****. ********* ** Vulnerability *** ********** *** unanticipated. ******* ** ******** spy ** ****** *** "tools" ***** *** ***** of "*******" *** ***********.

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Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 03/30/21 01:52pm

* ****** ***** *** Avigilon ******* ********** **** really ******* **. * have * *** ** Avigilon ******* *** * must ** ***** ********* wrong ******* * ***'* have *** ****** ** $67,500 * ***** *** maintenance *** ******* **** $90,000 * **** ** licenses.

IPVM Image

Agree
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Informative: 1
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Funny: 4

Undisclosed Integrator #12

03/30/21 07:46pm

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

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

** *** ***** **** Verkada

Agree: 1
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Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #12 | 03/30/21 09:28pm

*** ******** ******* *** not **** **** *********** (the ****, *** *** cover-up). *** ***** ** was, ** ** *******, intentional. ******* *** ************* using ******* *** *********** specifically ******** ** ***** full ****** *** *********** nefarious *******. ********, **** many ***** ************* *********** a ****** ** *****( if *** ******** *** indirectly *** *** ***** partner). *** ********-*** *** the *****-**.

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Andrew Myers

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #12 | 03/30/21 09:30pm

* *********** *****. ******* over ******* ******* ***** cyber ******* ****** ****. In ******, *** ******* thing *** **** **** access ** *******, *** pwning * ****** ***** pwning * ****** (********** if *** ****** *** on * **** **** it ****** **** ****🤞).

*******, *** ******* **** gave ****** ** **** high ******* *******, **** Tesla *** **********. ********* on *** ****** *********, that ***** ********* ********* espionage. *'* *** **** if ******** *** *** customers **** *** **** prominent. *** *** ******** breach ***** ** *** it ** *** ***** number ** ***** ** medium **********.

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Avatar

Hauke Kerl

04/07/21 03:27pm

Both *** ************.

*** ** *** ***** (easily) ******** ** ******* oneself **** ******* *** Hik ********. ** *** way, ** ********* *** IP ******* (***** **** at ********) **** *** something **** **** ** the ****. **** **** out *** *** ***** embarrassing *** ********. (****** *******)

**** *******, * ***'* really **** **** ** say. ***** ***** ** be * *** ***** wrong ** *** *******. ISO ***** ****** ** a ******* *** ********* like **** *** *** there **** ** **** internal ******** ********. *** a ****** ***! ** other *****, ***** ** a *** ***** **** the ************.

Agree
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