Cyber Security

Kaspersky Finds 24 Vulnerabilities in Chinese Biometric Access Systems

Published

9 months ago

June 12, 2024

Kaspersky has identified numerous flaws in the hybrid biometric terminal produced by international manufacturer ZKTeco. By adding random user data to the database or using a fake QR code, a nefarious actor can easily bypass the verification process and gain unauthorized access. Attackers can also steal and leak biometric data, remotely manipulate devices, and deploy backdoors. High-security facilities worldwide are at risk if they use this vulnerable device.

The flaws were discovered in the course of Kaspersky Security Assessment experts’ research into the software and hardware of ZKTeco’s white-label devices. All findings were proactively shared with the manufacturer prior to public disclosure. The biometric readers in question are widely used in areas across diverse sectors – from nuclear or chemical plants to offices and hospitals. These devices support face recognition and QR-code authentication, along with the capacity to store thousands of facial templates.

However, the newly discovered vulnerabilities expose them to various attacks. Kaspersky grouped the flaws based on the required patches, and registered them under specific CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). The CVE-2023-3938 vulnerability allows cybercriminals to perform a cyberattack known as SQL injection, which involves inserting malicious code into strings sent to a terminal’s database. Attackers can inject specific data into the QR code used for accessing restricted areas. Consequently, they can gain unauthorized access to the terminal and physically access the restricted areas.

When the terminal processes a request containing this type of malicious QR code, the database mistakenly identifies it as originating from the most recently authorized legitimate user. If the fake QR code contains an excessive amount of malicious data, rather than granting access, the device restarts.

“In addition to replacing the QR code, there is another intriguing physical attack vector. If someone with malicious intent gains access to the device’s database, they can exploit other vulnerabilities to download a legitimate user’s photo, print it, and use it to deceive the device’s camera to gain access to a secured area. This method, of course, has certain limitations. It requires a printed photo, and warmth detection must be turned off. However, it still poses a significant potential threat,” says Georgy Kiguradze, Senior Application Security Specialist at Kaspersky.

CVE-2023-3940 are flaws in a software component that permit arbitrary file reading. Exploiting these vulnerabilities grants a potential attacker access to any file on the system and enables them to extract it. This includes sensitive biometric user data and password hashes to further compromise the corporate credentials. Similarly, CVE-2023-3942 provides another way to retrieve sensitive user and system information from the biometry devices’ databases – through SQL injection attacks.

Threat actors can not only access and steal but also remotely alter the database of a biometric reader by exploiting CVE-2023-3941. This group of vulnerabilities originates from improper verification of user input across multiple system components. Exploiting it allows attackers to upload their own data, such as photos, thereby adding unauthorized individuals to the database. This could enable them to stealthily bypass turnstiles or doors. Another critical feature of this vulnerability enables perpetrators to replace executable files, potentially creating a backdoor.

Successful exploitation of two other groups of new flaws – CVE-2023-3939 and CVE-2023-3943 – enables the execution of arbitrary commands or code on the device, granting the attacker full control with the highest level of privileges. This allows the threat actor to manipulate the device’s operation, leveraging it to launch attacks on other network nodes and expand the offense across a broader corporate infrastructure.

“The impact of the discovered vulnerabilities is alarmingly diverse. To begin with, attackers can sell stolen biometric data on the dark web, subjecting affected individuals to increased risks of deepfake and sophisticated social engineering attacks. Furthermore, the ability to alter the database weaponizes the original purpose of the access control devices, potentially granting access to restricted areas for nefarious actors. Lastly, some vulnerabilities enable the placement of a backdoor to covertly infiltrate other enterprise networks, facilitating the development of sophisticated attacks, including cyberespionage or sabotage. All these factors underscore the urgency of patching these vulnerabilities and thoroughly auditing the device’s security settings for those using the devices in corporate areas,” elaborates Georgy Kiguradze. At the time of publishing the vulnerability information, Kaspersky lacks accessible data on whether the patches have been issued.

To thwart related cyberattacks, besides installing the patch, Kaspersky advises taking the following steps:

Isolate biometric reader usage into a separate network segment.
Employ robust administrator passwords, changing default ones.
Audit and bolster device’s security settings, fortifying weak defaults. Consider enabling or adding temperature detection to avoid authorization using a random photo.
Minimize the use of QR-code functionality, if feasible.
Update firmware regularly.

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Cyber Security

Positive Technologies Discovery Leads D-Link to Recommend Router Replacements

Published

15 hours ago

March 19, 2025

Priyan Sampath

Vladimir Razov, an expert from the PT SWARM team, has discovered a vulnerability in several models of D-Link routers. According to Mordor Intelligence, D-Link is one of the top three Wi-Fi router manufacturers in the world. The vendor has been notified of the threat in line with the responsible disclosure policy and recommends that users switch to more recent devices.

The vulnerability, which is registered as BDU:2024-06211 with a CVSS 3.0 score of 8.4, affects the following D-Link models: DIR-878, DIR-882, DIR-2640-US, DIR-1960-US, DIR-2660-US, DIR-3040-US, DIR-3060-US, DIR-867-US, DIR-882-US, DIR-882/RE, DIR-882-CA, and DIR-882-US/RE. At the time of the research, vulnerable routers could be discovered using search engines in the United States, Canada, Sweden, China, Indonesia, and Taiwan.

According to the manufacturer, these models are no longer supported. D-Link recommends retiring the outdated devices and replacing them with supported devices that receive firmware updates. “If this vulnerability is successfully exploited, a malicious user authorized in the router’s web interface can compromise the entire device and gain access to all traffic passing through it,” says Vladimir Razov, Web Application Security Analyst at PT SWARM, the offensive security department at Positive Technologies.

As a temporary measure to mitigate the threat, Vladimir Razov recommends using OpenWrt (an open-source embedded operating system based on the Linux kernel and designed specifically for routers) or changing the login credentials for accessing the router’s web interface. Previously, Positive Technologies helped address vulnerabilities in Zyxel routers and other Zyxel devices. Positive Technologies also enhanced its PT Industrial Security Incident Manager (PT ISIM) with an additional expertise pack, enabling cybersecurity teams to detect attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in MikroTik routers and Cisco switches.

Cyber Security

Sophos Study: MDR Users Claim 97.5% Less in Cyber Insurance

Published

2 days ago

March 18, 2025

Chris Fernando

Leading cybersecurity provider Sophos has released findings from a new study quantifying the financial impact of various cybersecurity controls on cyber insurance claims. The research compares the effect of endpoint solutions, EDR/XDR technologies, and MDR services on claim amounts, offering valuable insights for both insurers and organizations.

Sally Adam, Senior Director, Solution Marketing at Sophos, said, “Every year, organisations spend huge amounts of money on their cybersecurity. By quantifying the impact of controls on the outcome of cyberattacks, this study enables them to focus their investments on the most cost-effective options. At the same time, insurers have a major influence on cybersecurity spending through the controls they require of organisations wishing to be covered and the discounts they offer when a given scheme is in place. This study enables them to encourage investments that can make a real difference to incident outcomes and the resulting claim amounts.”

The Sophos study reveals a dramatic difference in cyber insurance claims: organizations using MDR services claim a median compensation of just $75,000, a staggering 97.5% less than the $3 million median claimed by organizations relying solely on endpoint solutions. This means that endpoint-only users typically claim 40 times more in the event of an attack. The study attributes this significant reduction to the rapid threat detection and blocking capabilities of MDR services, which can effectively prevent extensive damage.

The study also highlights a clear benefit to combining EDR or XDR with endpoint solutions, as the average insurance claim for users of these tools is just $500,000, which is one-sixth of the $3 million average claim for those using only endpoint solutions.

The Sophos study indicates that the predictability of cyber insurance claims varies significantly depending on the security controls in place. Claims from organizations utilizing MDR services show the highest predictability, suggesting consistent and reliable threat mitigation. This is likely due to the 24/7 expert monitoring, investigation, and response that allows for swift action against threats at any time. Conversely, claims from users of EDR/XDR tools are the least predictable, implying that their effectiveness in preventing major damage heavily depends on the user’s expertise and speed of response.

The Sophos study also reveals significant differences in recovery times from ransomware attacks. Endpoint solution users average a 40-day recovery, while EDR/XDR users take the longest at 55 days. In stark contrast, organizations using MDR services recover the fastest, with an average downtime of just three days. These findings underscore MDR’s effectiveness in minimizing the impact of cyberattacks and highlight the less predictable recovery experiences associated with EDR/XDR tools, whose success is dependent on user expertise.

Adam concludes, “The research confirms what many people instinctively know: the type of security solution used has a significant impact on cyber insurance claims. Cyberattacks are inevitable, but defences are not. These results are a useful tool for organisations wishing to optimise their cyber defence and their return on investment in cybersecurity. They will also be useful for insurers looking to reduce their exposure and offer suitable policies to their customers.”

Cyber Security

Fortinet Strengthens OT Security for Critical Infrastructure

Published

2 days ago

March 18, 2025

Chris Fernando

Fortinet has enhanced its OT Security Platform to better protect critical infrastructure from modern cyberthreats. The upgraded platform offers more than basic OT visibility with the new FortiGuard OT Security Service, expanded hardened solutions for network segmentation and 5G in demanding environments, and an improved OT SecOps portfolio for automated threat response and compliance management.

“Fortinet has been building an industry-leading OT Security Platform for 20-plus years and remains at the forefront of OT security innovation,” said Nirav Shah, Senior Vice President, Products and Solutions at Fortinet. “As cyberthreats against critical infrastructure and across industries such as energy, transportation, and manufacturing continue to grow, Fortinet remains committed to delivering comprehensive security solutions tailored for operational technology environments. These latest enhancements give organizations the tools they need to improve their OT security posture and adhere to regulatory requirements—all managed through a single, unified platform.”

The latest Fortinet OT Security Platform enhances OT security with:

Advanced Threat Protection: New FortiGate Rugged NGFWs combined with the enhanced FortiGuard OT Security Service offer superior security enforcement, detecting threats using over 3,300 OT protocol rules, nearly 750 OT IPS rules, and 1,500 virtual patching rules. This protects against known exploited vulnerabilities and provides virtual patching for older OT systems. Secure remote access is also improved with updates to FortiSRA, including enhanced secrets and password management.
Secure Segmentation: The new FortiSwitch Rugged 108F and FortiSwitch Rugged 112F-POE industrial-grade switches enable precise security control at the port level, preventing unauthorized lateral movement within OT networks. Built on Fortinet’s unified FortiOS, these switches simplify network and security management.
Resilient Connectivity: Two new ruggedized 5G solutions are introduced: the IP67-rated FortiExtender Rugged 511G for secure, high-speed connectivity to remote OT sites, and the IP64-rated FortiExtender Vehicle 511G for fleet vehicles. Both feature embedded Wi-Fi 6 and new eSIM capabilities for easier carrier selection.
Enhanced OT SecOps: Fortinet’s AI-driven security operations capabilities are strengthened with updates to FortiAnalyzer 7.6 and FortiDeceptor 6.1, offering deeper threat insights and simplified compliance reporting for OT security teams. FortiNDR Cloud now includes OT protocol support for threat hunting, while FortiNDR (on-premises) adds features like a Purdue Model view and a device inventory covering OT and the Mitre ATT&CK ICS Matrix.

The Fortinet OT Security Platform delivers a unified view and comprehensive security tools to simplify the management of OT and remote site security. It empowers organizations to easily assess, secure, and report on risks, including meeting complex regulatory compliance. Fortinet uniquely offers seamless segmentation and a complete ruggedized portfolio of OT security solutions all managed by a single operating system, FortiOS. Its deep integration within the Fortinet Security Fabric makes it a leading platform in the industry, providing an effective, efficient, and holistic approach to OT security and compliance that surpasses standard offerings.