Security News
Mozilla has released security updates for multiple products to address zero-day vulnerabilities exploited during the Pwn2Own Vancouver 2022 hacking contest. If exploited, the two critical flaws can let attackers gain JavaScript code execution on mobile and desktop devices running vulnerable versions of Firefox, Firefox ESR, Firefox for Android, and Thunderbird.
On the third and last day of the 2022 Pwn2Own Vancouver hacking contest, security researchers successfully hacked Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system three more times using zero-day exploits. All other contestants hacked their targets, earning $160,000 after taking down Windows 11 three times and Ubuntu Desktop once.
Just a short note to let you know that we were wrong about Firefox and Pwn2Own in our latest podcast. We do know that Mozilla will be rushing to fix this one as soon as they get the details out of the Pwn2Own competition.
During the second day of the Pwn2Own Vancouver 2022 hacking competition, contestants hacked Microsoft's Windows 11 OS again and demoed zero-days in Tesla Model 3's infotainment system. A third elevation of privileges zero-day caused by an improper access control bug in Windows 11 was demoed on the second day by T0, with namnp failing to demonstrate a second Windows 11 privilege escalation zero-day within the time allotted.
During the first day of Pwn2Own Vancouver 2022, contestants won $800,000 after successfully exploiting 16 zero-day bugs to hack multiple products, including Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system and the Teams communication platform. The first to fall was Microsoft Teams in the enterprise communications category after Hector Peralta exploited an improper configuration flaw.
The rules of Pwn2Own are somewhat strange, given that some entrants may end up not actually competing at all. The Tesla hackers, plus the browser and virtualisation entrants, will all definitely get a turn, because they're the only competitors in their categories.
Late last week, our Slackware Linux distro announced an update to follow the scheduled-and-expected Firefox 100 release, which came out at the start of the month. The blog article, entitled Improved Process Isolation in Firefox 100, actually came out the day before the 100.0.1 release was uploaded to the FTP server, as though the changes were already accomplished in the 100.0 release.
Pwn2Own Miami 2022 has ended with competitors earning $400,000 for 26 zero-day exploits targeting ICS and SCADA products demoed during the contest between April 19 and April 21. "Thanks again to all of the competitors who participated. We couldn't have a contest without them," Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative said today.
Trend Micro's ZDI has awarded $1,081,250 for 61 zero-days exploited at Pwn2Own Austin 2021, with competitors successfully pwning the Samsung Galaxy S21 again and hacking an HP LaserJet printer to play AC/DC's Thunderstruck on the contest's third day. Sam Thomas from team Pentest Limited was the one who compromised the Samsung Galaxy S21 running the latest Android 11 security updates on the third day using a unique three-bug chain and earning $50,000.
Contestants hacked the Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone during the second day of the Pwn2Own Austin 2021 competition, as well as routers, NAS devices, speakers, and printers from Cisco, TP-Link, Western Digital, Sonos, Canon, Lexmark, and HP. So far, Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative has awarded $777,500 over the first two days of Pwn2Own Austin, with $415,000 awarded during the second day and $362,500 won during the first day. The Synacktiv team maintains a slight lead in the Master of Pwn standings with 15 Master of Pwn points and $150,000 won so far, one point ahead of the DEVCORE team that has 14 points and has earned $140,000.