时间:2025-04-03 12:07:40 来源:网络整理编辑:熱點
The past few months have not been good to WhatsApp users. Unfortunately, that doesn't look like it's
The past few months have not been good to WhatsApp users. Unfortunately, that doesn't look like it's about to change any time soon.
The Facebook-owned messaging app acknowledged and patched a major vulnerability that gave hackers the ability to access files on a victim's computer. All you had to do to fall prey to this attack was click a disguised link preview sent via the messaging app. In other words, it would have been an easy mistake for users to make.
Importantly, this did not affect every single WhatsApp user. Rather, a WhatsApp user had to have the iOS version of the messaging app paired to either a PC or MacOS WhatsApp desktop app.
"A vulnerability in WhatsApp Desktop when paired with WhatsApp for iPhone allows cross-site scripting and local file reading," reads the Facebook bug report. "Exploiting the vulnerability requires the victim to click a link preview from a specially crafted text message."
In a Feb. 4 blog post, the security researcher who discovered and disclosed the vulnerability detailed his process and noted that WhatsApp should really get its shit together.
"It is 2020," wrote Gal Weizman, "no product should be allowing a full read from the file system and potentially a [remote code execution] from a single message."
Patrick Wardle, a security researcher at Jamf and founder of Objective-See, told Mashable over Twitter direct message that "often desktop versions of apps aren't as well audited or well written ...and thus often open to attacks."
He added that this specific specific bug "was likely rather trivial to exploit," but cautioned against people freaking out.
"[Still]," wrote Wardle, "a super neat bug, and had the potential to impact lots of users (I use WhatsApp desktop), so definitely happy a security researcher uncovered it and that FB patched it quickly."
We reached out to Facebook in an effort to determine how many people were vulnerable to this exploit and how many, if any, were actually affectedby it. We've received no response as of press time.
Notably, WhatsApp vulnerabilities can have serious consequences. Just this past month, a security firm hired by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos claimed in a report that the CEO's phone may have been hacked following the receipt of a malicious WhatsApp message. And while Bezos will be fine, people with less power and resources who fall victim to similar attacks may not fare as well.
Facebook is aware of this, but suggests at least some of the blame should lie elsewhere. Following the news of Bezos' hacked phone, the company's vice president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Nicola Mendelsohn, suggested to Bloombergthat Apple is the real problem here.
"One of the things that it highlights is actually some of the potential underlying vulnerabilities that exist on the actual operating systems on phones," Mendelsohn told the publication. "From a WhatsApp perspective, from a Facebook perspective, the thing that we care about the most, the thing that we invest in is making sure that the information that people have with us is safe and secure."
SEE ALSO: Mic on Bezos' hacked phone possibly compromised for months
Which, yeah, great. Making sure WhatsApp information is "safe and secure" sounds great, but perhaps that should include not allowing malicious texts that let hackers access victims' computers? Sounds like a good place to start.
Or, if that's too much, maybe Facebook should start recommending Signal.
UPDATE: Feb. 5, 2020, 2:02 p.m. PST:This story has been updated with comment from Patrick Wardle.
TopicsCybersecurityFacebookWhatsApp
'The Flying Bum' aircraft crashes during second test flight2025-04-03 11:43
世界羽聯計劃在2023賽季恢複“頂級球員”參賽製度 澳大利亞公開賽國羽三金收兵2025-04-03 11:40
原創 世界羽聯宣布2023年至2026年巡回賽將增加四站賽事! ! !2025-04-03 11:26
英超:西漢姆聯VS熱刺,鐵錘幫鋒線無力 ,熱刺有望延續勝利!2025-04-03 11:24
Despite IOC ban, Rio crowds get their political messages across2025-04-03 11:01
英超第20輪推薦:切爾西VS水晶宮、熱刺VS阿森納2025-04-03 10:50
2023年賽曆,除了2月和12月 ,其他每個月都有32025-04-03 10:38
馬來西亞公開賽第二輪戰罷 國羽獲八個八強席位2025-04-03 10:14
The U.S. will no longer have the final say on internet domain names2025-04-03 10:06
1/4 周三2場賽事預測精選出擊 :羅馬,水晶宮 ,熱刺 ,奮發圖強2025-04-03 10:01
You can now play 'Solitaire' and 'Tic2025-04-03 11:27
世界羽聯公布20232025-04-03 11:24
被抓的劉奕是誰?曾幫蘇寧50億拿下英超版權,全程參與孫繼海轉會2025-04-03 10:57
原創 2023年世界羽聯賽程2025-04-03 10:41
Felix the cat just raised £5000 for charity because she's the hero we all need2025-04-03 10:15
【波盈足球】 足球與梅西「英雄相惜」擁抱致意 C羅IG發文 :見到老友很開心 ( 美聯社,球員 )2025-04-03 10:08
今日賽事:英超(諾丁漢vs切爾西)2025-04-03 09:56
【英超】2023年1月14日2025-04-03 09:55
Tesla's rumored P100D could make Ludicrous mode even more Ludicrous2025-04-03 09:43
今日賽事 :英超(狼隊vs曼聯)2025-04-03 09:33