Trending...
- Tim O'Loughlin Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Vantiva and Co-opted as a Director of the Board
- The Champagne Connection Podcast: Healing Trauma and Finding Inner Peace with Radhavi Riom
- Local SF Conservatory Pre-College Student Selected to Perform at Carnegie Hall
SILVER SPRING, Md. - illiNews -- Silent Sector, a leading cybersecurity firm specializing in protecting mid-market businesses, has discovered a major flaw in the two-factor authentication (2FA) enrollment process that could leave millions of organizations vulnerable to cyberattacks. The vulnerability lies in the use of QR codes for 2FA, a common security practice across industries, and poses an urgent threat to the security of organizations that rely on this method to protect sensitive accounts.
The vulnerability Silent Sector identified is related to the secret key embedded in QR codes used for 2FA enrollment. When users scan a QR code to link their authentication apps, such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator, to access their accounts, the secret key that allows this link never expires. This creates a critical security risk: if a QR code was sent via email, saved to a device, or stored in a repository, hackers could potentially access that code, re-enroll in the 2FA process, and bypass account security measures.
"Many organizations trust QR codes as part of their authentication systems, but this discovery shows a significant gap in security," said Lauro Chavez, Partner and Head of Research at Silent Sector. "The issue is that these QR codes, and the secret keys they contain, can be reused indefinitely. That's a massive risk if they fall into the wrong hands."
More on illi News
The Scale of the Threat
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is widely used by businesses and individuals to add an extra layer of security to account logins. The process typically requires users to enter not just a password but also a one-time passcode (OTP), which is generated by an authentication app on a user's phone. This is typically performed after enrolling in the multi-factor authentication process. This process is frequently enabled by scanning a QR code during the initial setup.
Indeed, for the better part of a decade, QR code-based 2FA has been considered a highly secure method because it was believed that the secret key embedded in the code expired after the initial setup. However, Silent Sector's discovery reveals that this is not the case. The secret key embedded in the QR code remains valid indefinitely, allowing a malicious actor to use it to re-enroll and gain access to accounts even if the original user is unaware.
"This vulnerability has the potential to impact millions of businesses worldwide, especially those in the mid-market, which may not have the resources or expertise to deal with such sophisticated threats," Chavez explained. "The ability to reuse these codes without expiration is particularly concerning, as many organizations may not even realize the risk."
To read the remainder of the interview, please visit:
https://bit.ly/3zEuqTs
The vulnerability Silent Sector identified is related to the secret key embedded in QR codes used for 2FA enrollment. When users scan a QR code to link their authentication apps, such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator, to access their accounts, the secret key that allows this link never expires. This creates a critical security risk: if a QR code was sent via email, saved to a device, or stored in a repository, hackers could potentially access that code, re-enroll in the 2FA process, and bypass account security measures.
"Many organizations trust QR codes as part of their authentication systems, but this discovery shows a significant gap in security," said Lauro Chavez, Partner and Head of Research at Silent Sector. "The issue is that these QR codes, and the secret keys they contain, can be reused indefinitely. That's a massive risk if they fall into the wrong hands."
More on illi News
- Get an Online Handicap Parking Placard in Los Angeles: HandicapMD.com Revolutionizes Access to Handicap Placards
- 10th Annual Benefit for Women Veterans: 100 Pretty Purses to Mark 2,000 Lives Changed Since 2015
- Carl Resnick joins Flexible Plan Investments as vice president of national sales
- Project EverGreen Creates A Cooler, Greener Future for New York City's Joe Holzka Community Garden
- Gravesider Mobile App Wants to Hire Actors to Play Dead
The Scale of the Threat
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is widely used by businesses and individuals to add an extra layer of security to account logins. The process typically requires users to enter not just a password but also a one-time passcode (OTP), which is generated by an authentication app on a user's phone. This is typically performed after enrolling in the multi-factor authentication process. This process is frequently enabled by scanning a QR code during the initial setup.
Indeed, for the better part of a decade, QR code-based 2FA has been considered a highly secure method because it was believed that the secret key embedded in the code expired after the initial setup. However, Silent Sector's discovery reveals that this is not the case. The secret key embedded in the QR code remains valid indefinitely, allowing a malicious actor to use it to re-enroll and gain access to accounts even if the original user is unaware.
"This vulnerability has the potential to impact millions of businesses worldwide, especially those in the mid-market, which may not have the resources or expertise to deal with such sophisticated threats," Chavez explained. "The ability to reuse these codes without expiration is particularly concerning, as many organizations may not even realize the risk."
To read the remainder of the interview, please visit:
https://bit.ly/3zEuqTs
Source: Silent Sector
0 Comments
Latest on illi News
- Integris Composites Displays New Military Armor at AUSA 2024
- Expert HVAC Upgrade Tips to Maximize Energy Efficiency
- ALLTRA SonicSwap Expands DeFi Opportunities with Weekly Listings and Global Partnerships
- ALL Mainnet Launches AUSDT Stablecoin onto the global arena
- The Giving Edge: Is Leveraging Outrageous Kindness the Missing Link for Corporate ROI?
- One Of The Largest Native American Burial Sites In The United States Moves A Step Closer To National Recognition
- Gene Siskel Film Center of The School of The Art Institute of Chicago Announces the Full Program for the 30th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival
- Mayor Brandon Johnson and London Tech Startup Announce Chicago as U.S. Headquarters, Bringing Well-being Benefits to Businesses Nationwide
- Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies Announces New Book: Integrated Behavioral Health: Applying the Biodyne Mindset in Healthcare
- SureFlow to Showcase AI and Eco-Technology Energy Management Solutions at GITEX 2024
- Smart Merchant Solution goes BLUU to strengthen its position in the Point of Sale (POS) Solutions and Payments Processing Sector
- Local SF Conservatory Pre-College Student Selected to Perform at Carnegie Hall
- CU Aerospace, LLC Awarded Multi-Million Dollar Contract for Cutting-Edge Space Thruster
- Origination of Prince Oak's new alias and reasons of his change — the Eurasian Prince's newest nominal label is "Papa Eurasia"
- Anaptyx Selected Top Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) 2024
- Sensorium Therapeutics Highlights Promising Data on Lead Assets Targeting Anxiety & Epilepsy at Neuroscience 2024
- Mayor Brandon Johnson and World Business Chicago Lead High-level Business Mission to London, Advancing Economic Growth Opportunities for Chicago
- Bug Busters Celebrates 40 Years in the Pest Control Industry
- Made-in-the USA Manufacturer, Jeron Electronic Systems, has Experienced No Supply Delays for Shipping Nurse Call Systems and Area of Rescue Systems
- National Minority Health Association and Cell-Ed Announce Upcoming Webinar: Empowering Caregivers Through Innovative Training Programs