Idaho National Lab researcher shines a light on the market for ICS zero-days

The market for previously unknown, or zero-day, software exploits has come out of the shadows in recent years as exploit brokers openly advertise million-dollar payouts. But while zero-day brokers like Zerodium and Crowdfense sometimes outline the types of exploits they buy — whether for mobile or desktop devices — much less has been said about the market for exploits that affect industrial control systems (ICS), which support critical infrastructure sectors like energy and transportation. Sarah Freeman, an analyst at the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory, is trying to help fill that void in data and, in the process, show how the ICS exploit market can be a bellwether for threats. Freeman’s hypothesis was that “if you track these bounties, you can use them as precursors or tripwires for future adversary activity.” She argues that current tallies of zero-day exploits with ICS implications are undercounted. In the first quarter of 2019, […]

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Iranian APT, Equifax, & Crowdfense – Hack Naked News #210

    Severe RCE vulnerability affected popular StackStorm Automation software, Crowdfense is willing to pay $3 Million for iOS and Android Zero-Days, Equifax neglected cyber security prior to breach, Google launches new Cloud Security services, and an u… Continue reading Iranian APT, Equifax, & Crowdfense – Hack Naked News #210

As Phones Get Harder to Hack, Zero Day Vendors Hunt for Router Exploits

Obtaining vulnerabilities for fully up-to-date mobile phones is getting harder. So companies that sell exploits to governments are increasingly looking for attacks that target internet routers instead, with one company paying up to $100,000. Continue reading As Phones Get Harder to Hack, Zero Day Vendors Hunt for Router Exploits

New infosec products of the week​: September 28, 2018

Chronicle announces VirusTotal Enterprise with greater search and analysis capabilities Chronicle, the cybersecurity subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet, has announced VirusTotal Enterprise, which is aimed at helping enterprises protect thei… Continue reading New infosec products of the week​: September 28, 2018

Crowdfense launches Vulnerability Research Hub for top security researchers

Crowdfense officially launched the Vulnerability Research Hub out of beta. After being internally developed and fine-tuned for several months, Crowdfense opened their process-oriented platform to a wider audience of researchers and brokers interested i… Continue reading Crowdfense launches Vulnerability Research Hub for top security researchers

Crowdfense platform to allow researchers to safely submit, discuss and sell 0day exploits

Crowdfense announced the launch of their Vulnerability Research Platform (VRP). This web-based collaboration platform allows vulnerability researchers to safely submit, discuss and quickly sell single 0day exploits and chains of exploits. The VRP will … Continue reading Crowdfense platform to allow researchers to safely submit, discuss and sell 0day exploits

The zero-day industry tries ‘transparency’ in Dubai

In an industry that tends to be quiet by design, a new international firm is deliberately making noise. Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, Crowdfense first attracted attention in April when it announced a $10 million fund to pay enterprising hackers for zero-day exploits that the company then turns around to sell to government customers. The payouts include up to $3 million for hackers who break into iOS and Android devices. The big money comes paired with an earnest promise of “transparency” that is unique in an industry where secrecy is standard operating procedure. Crowdfense director Andrea Zapparoli Manzoni told CyberScoop that he wants to “do things differently.” The zero-day industry uncovers — through research or by purchase — exploits in computer systems and then sells them to the highest bidder. Many governments and even some private companies are involved in the business. Crowdfense shares a lot in common with its closest competitor […]

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