Facebook Vulnerability Allows Hacker to Alter Conversations

Facebook Vulnerability Allows Hacker to Alter Conversations

An online security company, Check Point Software Technologies, found a security flaw in Facebook’s Messenger platform that allowed hackers to change messages in a Facebook chat after they had been sent.

It goes like this – someone could send you a link, any link that is not malicious in any way. A hacker then swoops in and replaces that chat message with a different link that could send you to a malware installation package, tricking you into infecting your system.

The vulnerability, explained in detail on Check Point’s blog, is exploited by finding a message’s unique “message_id” identifier then altering the message’s content and sending it back to Facebook which accepts the new content as genuine, without alerting the recipient of the change.

According the Check Point, the vulnerability was found earlier this month, and Facebook has been notified. The social media network moved quickly to eradicate the problem.

The Facebook Messenger vulnerability comes as founding father of Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg’s credentials to sites like Pinterest and Twitter were leaked as a likely result of the LinkedIn password hack in revealed in May. Other sites like MySpace and Tumblr have been battling password leaks as well.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities