Researchers Find Security Flaws in Popular Data Storage Devices

Researchers Find Security Flaws in Popular Data Storage Devices

Researchers found a malicious expert can bypass existing protection mechanisms and access the data without knowing the user-chosen password.

Researchers at Radboud University have found critical security flaws in several popular data security devices manufactured by companies like Crucial and Samsung. The researchers say the flaws can be easily exploited to recover encrypted data without knowing the password.

In a paper released on Monday, the Radboud researchers explained they were able to reverse engineer the firmware of several solid state drives to find a "pattern of critical issues" across the devices makers.

For one of the drives the researchers worked on, the master password used to decrypt the drive's data was just an empty string and could be easily exploited by flipping a single bit in the drive's memory. Another drive could be in unlocked with "any password" by crippling the drive's password validation checks. 

The researchers found that users "should not rely solely on hardware encryption as offered by SSD's confidentiality," since finding that, in the case of Windows computers, often the default policy for BitLocker's software-based drive encryption is to trust the drive, and therefore rely entirely on the device's hardware encryption to protect data. 

Computer security researcher for Tripwire's VERT (Vulnerability and Exposure Reearch Team), Craig Young said that calling these devices encrypted is misleading in the first place.

"Expecting a hard drive maker to provide meaningful security of the data it stores is like letting lunatics run the asylum," Young said. "The best security protections are tiered and layered and in this case, that means not relying on the drive to handle authentication, encryption and data storage."

Mounir Hahad, head of The Juniper Threat Labs at Juniper Networks offered up a solution to securing against these kinds of vulnerabilities.

"I suggest that any company that deploys these models in their Windows laptops switches to software encryption immediately and reimages the drives to work around this issue," Hahad said. "Switching only to software encryption without reimaging does not provide protection for data previously on the disk."

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

  • DHS to End ‘Shoes-Off’ Travel Policy

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a new policy today which will allow passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. Read Now

New Products

  • 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.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.