1. Heartbleed: In 2014, a vulnerability known as Heartbleed was discovered in the OpenSSL cryptographic software library used in many web servers. This vulnerability allowed attackers to exploit a flaw in the implementation of the Transport Layer Security (TLS) heartbeat extension, potentially exposing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and encryption keys. The vulnerability was widely publicized, and affected websites had to quickly issue patches to fix the flaw and protect their users' data.
2. WannaCry: In 2017, the world witnessed the devastating impact of the WannaCry ransomware attack. This ransomware exploited a vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows operating system called EternalBlue, which was believed to have been developed by the National Security Agency (NSA) and leaked by the hacker group called Shadow Brokers. EternalBlue allowed the malware to spread across networks by exploiting a weakness in the Windows Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. The attack resulted in the encryption of countless computers in over 150 countries, disrupting critical services such as healthcare and transportation. Microsoft soon released patches to address the vulnerability, but the incident highlighted the importance of regularly updating systems with security patches to prevent such widespread attacks.
3. Spectre and Meltdown: In early 2018, two major vulnerabilities, Spectre and Meltdown, were discovered in computer processors. These vulnerabilities affected almost all modern processors from various manufacturers, including Intel, AMD, and ARM. Spectre and Meltdown allowed attackers to exploit a design flaw in the processors, enabling them to access sensitive data stored in the memory of running applications. This included passwords, encryption keys, and other sensitive information, potentially impacting millions of devices worldwide. Various software and firmware updates were released by manufacturers to mitigate the vulnerabilities, but the incident emphasized the need for regular patching and updates to protect against evolving cybersecurity threats.
Describe one example of each of the following cybersecurity vulnerabilities:
Patches vulnerabilities
1 answer