Video surveillance company Dahua Technology has started releasing firmware updates to address a serious vulnerability in some of its video recorders and IP cameras.
The flaw was discovered by a researcher with the online moniker “bashis.” The expert, who has classified the issue as a backdoor, noticed that he could remotely download a device’s complete user database, including usernames and password hashes.
The administrator credentials stored in the database can be used to log in to the device. IPVM reported that the password hashes can be used directly to log in, without the need to crack them (i.e. pass the hash attack).
Bashis did not notify Dahua before making his findings public, but he did remove the proof-of-concept (PoC) code he had released at the vendor’s request. The PoC will be made public again on April 5.
In the meantime, Dahua has published a security bulletin to warn customers of the vulnerability. The company said the flaw had been caused by a “small piece of code.”
“It’s important to note that the vulnerability is not the result of a malicious attack on any specific installation where our products are deployed; it was discovered by Bashis conducting independent testing of various suppliers’ surveillance products,” the company said.
Dahua has so far identified 11 affected IP cameras and video recorders, and released firmware updates for them. The company’s investigation is ongoing and other impacted devices could be discovered in the upcoming days.
It’s important that users update the firmware on their devices as Dahua products are often targeted by Internet of Things (IoT) botnets. Researchers reported last year that many of the devices hijacked by the BASHLITE and Mirai botnets had been surveillance products from Dahua.
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