All computer programs use code to function, however coding mistakes can lead to software vulnerabilities. Some of these have caused widespread concern and serious consequences, rattling the cybersecurity world including the world of real money casinos like
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- Log4Shell
The Log4Shell software vulnerability was included in Apache Log4j, a prominent Java logging framework used by tens of millions of people worldwide.
In November 2021, Chen Zhaojun, an Alibaba Cloud Security Team member, uncovered a significant coding issue. Zhaojun originally discovered the issue on Minecraft servers.
The vulnerability, formally called CVE-2021-44228, became known as Log4Shell.
The Log4Shell security issue is a zero-day vulnerability, which means it was exploited by malicious actors before cybersecurity experts discovered it, allowing them to execute remote code. Hackers might use this to install malicious code in Log4j, allowing for data theft, spying, and malware dissemination.
Cybercriminals continue to use Log4Shell in their exploits today, despite the fact that the patch greatly reduced the threat level. According to Rezilion, a frightening 26% of public Minecraft servers are still vulnerable to Log4Shell.
If an organization or individual does not update their software, the Log4Shell vulnerability will most certainly remain, offering an opportunity for attackers.
- EternalBlue
EternalBlue (formally known as MS17-010) is a software vulnerability that first gained attention in April 2017. What’s interesting about this vulnerability is that it was partially created by the NSA, a massive American intelligence agency known for assisting the US Department of Defense with military affairs.
The NSA found the EternalBlue vulnerability in Microsoft, but it wasn’t until five years later that Microsoft became aware of it. The NSA worked on EternalBlue as a viable cyber weapon, and it required a breach to alert the world to this.
Following a digital infiltration of the NSA, the Shadow Brokers hacker organization revealed the existence of EternalBlue in 2017. The bug offered the NSA hidden backdoor access to a variety of Windows-based computers, including those running Windows 7, Windows 8, and the much-maligned Windows Vista, which could be used to access naplespizzasw.com back then. In other words, the NSA might gain access to millions of devices without the user’s awareness.
Though there is a patch for EternalBlue, Microsoft’s and the public’s lack of understanding of the flaw left devices vulnerable for years.
- Heartbleed
The Heartbleed security issue was publicly identified in 2014, but it has been present in the OpenSSL code library for two years before. Certain obsolete versions of the OpenSSL library contained Heartbleed, which was judged severe when discovered.
Heartbleed, technically known as CVE-2014-0160, was a serious security risk due to its position in OpenSSL. Because OpenSSL was utilized as an SSL encryption layer between website databases and end users, the Heartbleed issue could potentially expose a large amount of sensitive data.
During this communication process, however, another unencrypted connection was established, serving as a foundation layer to confirm that both machines in the conversation were active.
Hackers discovered a way to exploit this unencrypted route of communication in order to extract sensitive data from a previously safe computer. Essentially, the attacker would bombard the system with queries in the hopes of obtaining some valuable information.
Heartbleed was patched the same month it was discovered, however earlier versions of OpenSSL remain vulnerable to the issue.
- Double Kill
Double Kill (also known as CVE-2018-8174) was a significant zero-day vulnerability that put Windows systems at risk. This flaw, discovered in 2018, made waves in cybersecurity news because it is present in all Windows operating systems beginning with version 7.
Double Kill is detected in the Windows Internet Explorer browser and takes use of a VB script flaws. The attack approach involves utilizing a rogue Internet Explorer webpage that contains the code needed to exploit the issue.
If properly attacked, Double Kill has the potential to provide attackers with the same system permissions as the original, authorized user. In such cases, attackers have the ability to take complete control of a Windows device.
In May 2018, Windows released a patch for Double Kill.
- CVE-2022-0609
CVE-2022-0609 is another important software vulnerability discovered in 2022. The Chrome-based flaw turned out to be a zero-day vulnerability, which attackers exploited in the wild.
This vulnerability may affect all Chrome users, which is why its severity is so high. CVE-2022-0609 is a use-after-free flaw, which means it can change data and execute code remotely.
Google quickly released a patch for CVE-2022-0609 as part of a Chrome browser update.