TikTok app

TikTok Fixes Cybersecurity Flaws That Could Have Allowed Hackers to Upload, Delete Videos

Following the disclosure of several security issues, TikTok issued a patch to ensure that user privacy was protected.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Jan 09, 2020

After a team of Israeli cybersecurity researchers discovered a number of security issues with the popular video app TikTok, the company has taken steps to fix the cybersecurity flaws and ensure that hackers are not able to access personal user information.

The researchers, from Check Point Research, published a report on Wednesday that demonstrated how hackers could upload or delete videos off of user accounts and access personal user information, such as email addresses and birthdays. Most shocking was the fact that the researchers were able to manipulate the links sent to users by text when they signed up for a TikTok account.

Once the user clicked on the link, hackers would be able to control the account, NBC News reported.

“Check Point researchers learned that a hacker can force a TikTok user onto a web server controlled by the hacker, making it possible for the attacker to send unwanted requests on behalf of the user," the research team wrote in a press release.

There was no indication that a hacker took advantage of the flaws before the researchers notified TikTok of the issues in November.

“Check Point Research informed TikTok developers about the vulnerabilities exposed in this research and a solution was responsibly deployed to ensure its users can safely continue using the TikTok app,” the firm wrote.

In response to the report, Luke Deshotels, who works for TikTok’s security team, said in a statement provided to CheckPoint that TikTok encourages researchers to privately disclose vulnerabilities to the company so that they can be fixed before the flaws are public.

“Before public disclosure, CheckPoint agreed that all reported issues were patched in the latest version of our app,” Deshotels said. “We hope that this successful resolution will encourage future collaboration with security researchers.”

TikTok has faced frequent scrutiny from security experts and lawmakers over the past year who are concerned over the app’s Chinese ownership. ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, has been accused of censoring content considered offensive to China and collecting user data that can then be shared with the government.

The Department of Commerce is currently conducting a national security review of ByteDance’s purchase of American app Musical.ly, TikTok’s precursor. In addition, the app paid a multi-million dollar fine in 2019 to settle accusations that it violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal information about kids without requiring parental consent.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Maximizing Your Security Budget This Year

    Perimeter Security Standards for Multi-Site Businesses

    When you run or own a business that has multiple locations, it is important to set clear perimeter security standards. By doing this, it allows you to assess and mitigate any potential threats or risks at each site or location efficiently and effectively. Read Now

  • Survey: 72% of CISOs Are Concerned Generative AI Solutions Could Result In Security Breach

    Metomic recently released its “2024 CISO Survey: Insights from the Security Leaders Keeping Critical Business Data Safe.” Metomic surveyed more than 400 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from the U.S. and UK to gain deeper insights on the state of data security. The report includes survey findings on various cybersecurity issues, including security leaders’ top priorities and challenges, SaaS app usage across their organization, and biggest concerns with implementing generative AI solutions. Read Now

  • New Research Shows a Continuing Increase in Ransomware Victims

    GuidePoint Security recently announced the release of GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team’s (GRIT) Q1 2024 Ransomware Report. In addition to revealing a nearly 20% year-over-year increase in the number of ransomware victims, the GRIT Q1 2024 Ransomware Report observes major shifts in the behavioral patterns of ransomware groups following law enforcement activity – including the continued targeting of previously “off-limits” organizations and industries, such as emergency hospitals. Read Now

  • OpenAI's GPT-4 Is Capable of Autonomously Exploiting Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

    According to a new study from four computer scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, OpenAI’s paid chatbot, GPT-4, is capable of autonomously exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities without any human assistance. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction. 3

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file. 3

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.” 3