The Wi-Fi passwords of GoPro users could have been easily downloaded from the camera maker’s servers by leveraging a security flaw, a researcher has revealed.
The vulnerability was discovered by Ilya Chernyakov, an Israel-based security researcher. The expert wanted to use the GoPro mobile app, which allows users to remotely control the camera. The app is designed to connect to the camera through a Wi-Fi network created by the device.
Since he didn’t know the Wi-Fi password for his camera, Chernyakov followed the instructions provided by GoPro for resetting the Wi-Fi name and password. On older models, users need to download a ZIP file from GoPro’s website, copy its contents to the camera’s memory card, and reboot the device.
The problem, according to the researcher, was that the download link for the ZIP file contained a number that was unique to each customer. For example, /firmware_bundle/8605145/UPDATE.zip.
Chernyakov noticed that he could change the number in the download link to gain access to other users’ Wi-Fi settings.
The expert created a Python script that allowed him to harvest Wi-Fi names and passwords belonging to 1,000 random GoPro users. He noted that there was no system in place to prevent him from downloading the large number of ZIP files.
The researcher hasn’t conducted real-world tests. However, in theory, an attacker could have downloaded the entire list of Wi-Fi names and passwords and he could have used the credentials to gain access to the videos of nearby GoPro users.
“GoPro made a very cool product. Lots of people love it and use it every day, so GoPro should protect our data and settings,” Chernyakov wrote in a blog post on Sunday.
The researcher initially attempted to report the vulnerability directly to GoPro, but after seeing that he couldn’t get through to the company, he notified US-CERT. In an update made to his blog post on Wednesday, Chernyakov noted that the issue has been addressed.
The vulnerability does not appear to have impacted GoPro HERO 4 users since the password reset feature on the latest camera model is different.
GoPro has not responded to SecurityWeek’s request for comment.
