Find out how vulnerability research needs to be bolstered by collaborations at every level of industry to keep the world safe
Software vulnerabilities, often caused by poor design and programming, complexity, or outdated technology, can, under the right conditions, be exploited by malicious attackers to seize complete control over computer systems.
The urgency for advanced research to identify and mitigate these hidden dangers has never been more pronounced. Cybercriminals have developed specialized skills to effectively target and exploit zero day vulnerabilities.
For example, the Cl0p Ransomware group caused significant supply chain compromises by successfully exploiting a zero day vulnerability in MOVEit file sharing software.
To address these challenges, extensive research is conducted to uncover critical vulnerabilities in commonly used programs. This involves a thorough understanding of the software and the application of both commercial and proprietary tools to systematically discover and address these hidden vulnerabilities. Such efforts are essential in staying ahead of cybercriminals and safeguarding against potential exploits that remain unknown to both vendors and the public, ensuring a more secure digital environment for all.
Uncovering hidden threats
Central to combating these threats is a robust framework for vulnerability research that aims to uncover critical vulnerabilities before they can cause harm. The approach to uncovering these hidden threats involves several stages:
- Attack surface mapping: This stage involves identifying how different inputs to a software interact with it, and the pinpointing of components responsible for processing these inputs. Meticulous observation and recording of how software components respond to these inputs will be conducted. In addition, the contribution of various inputs to past vulnerabilities will also be noted. These software components are then prioritized for further analysis, taking into consideration factors such as their recent introduction and the history of reported vulnerabilities.
- Data protection measures: Given the sensitivity of data processed by AI algorithms, robust data protection measures must be in place. This includes encryption of data at rest and in transit, access controls, and regular audits to ensure compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR and local data protection laws.
- Static analysis: This stage examines the software code to identify components that are likely to be buggy. If source code is available, a source code audit is performed to discover security issues in the source code. In cases where source code is not available, the binary code is disassembled into a human-readable assembly format for a comprehensive binary audit. Additionally, this stage identifies functions susceptible to input injections for dynamic analysis.
- Dynamic analysis: Techniques such as fuzzing involve sending specially crafted inputs to the software to trigger unexpected behavior patterns — a primary indicator of underlying vulnerabilities. The effectiveness of fuzzing is significantly enhanced by insights gained from the static analysis phase, which has already identified potential functions for input injections and the data structures that these functions expect. In-house expertise in file-format and grammar-based fuzzing has led to the development of proprietary tools that expedite the identification of problematic code.
When potential vulnerabilities are detected, they undergo a rigorous triage process. This involves evaluating factors such as reproducibility, reachability, exploitability, and impact. Necessary actions to protect users and the public from these identified vulnerabilities will be proactively taken.
Research insights also key
A key element in effective cybersecurity strategy is the integration of research findings into implementable security measures. This process often involves collaboration with security service teams to ensure that insights from vulnerability research are effectively translated into protective strategies that safeguard against potential threats.
For instance, consider a scenario where a vulnerability within the sandbox driver of a commercially sold antivirus software is discovered. This Local Privilege Escalation vulnerability grants NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM privileges to the attackers. Upon the discovery of this vulnerability, researchers need to work with the software vendor to promptly address and patch the vulnerability for the antivirus software customer base and the world at large.
Further, as the complexity of cyber threats increases, there is a growing need for continuous advancement in research methods and security tools to stay ahead of potential attackers. Addressing this challenge requires a collective effort involving industry leaders, policymakers, and cybersecurity professionals.
By doing so, we can strive towards a more secure and resilient digital future.
