Cyber Security Expert explains RCE to Mande regarding the recent Apex Legends hacker situation
Summary
TLDRThe script discusses the fear surrounding remote code execution in gaming. It clarifies that such execution allows an attacker to manipulate the server, not the user's machine, potentially leading to actions like banning players or altering game states. The speaker emphasizes the complexity of game servers, which can include separate systems for authentication, game state management, and payment processing. They also distinguish between having server access and full control over a user's machine, noting that the latter would require an additional client-side vulnerability.
Takeaways
- 😨 People are afraid to play the game due to a lack of understanding about remote code execution.
- 💻 Remote code execution allows an attacker to execute code on a server from their own machine.
- 🔒 It does not imply the ability to execute code on the user's machine, but rather control over the server's operations.
- 👤 The attacker could potentially ban users, generate packs, or alter the game lobby through server manipulation.
- 🏢 Different servers handle various aspects like authentication, game state, and payment processing.
- 🛡️ Authentication servers might not have access to game state changes, limiting the scope of potential damage.
- 🛍️ The attacker's access to purchase information and game servers indicates a significant breach.
- 🤖 The ability to summon bots, ban users, and manipulate anti-cheat systems are serious vulnerabilities.
- 📦 The creation and distribution of game packs by the attacker suggest deep access to game server functionalities.
- 🚫 Full control would be much worse, implying the attacker does not have complete control over all aspects.
- 🔗 The connection between server and client vulnerabilities needs to be proven to establish the full extent of the breach.
Q & A
What is the main concern people have about playing online games mentioned in the script?
-People are scared to play the game due to a lack of understanding about remote code execution and its implications.
What does 'remote code execution' mean in the context of the script?
-Remote code execution means that an attacker can execute code on a server from their own machine, potentially modifying memory and executing commands on the server.
Why might an attacker be able to ban users or generate packs on a server?
-If an attacker has remote code execution on a server, they can modify the server's operations, which could include actions like banning users, generating packs, or altering game lobbies.
What is the difference between the authentication server and the game server according to the script?
-The authentication server handles logins and may not have access to game state changes, while the game server itself manages the actual gameplay and could be affected by remote code execution.
Why might a server handling payment processing be on a separate system?
-Payment processing requires different security standards and measures to protect sensitive financial information, hence it is often handled on a separate server.
What does the script suggest about the attacker's access to the game servers?
-The attacker has access to summon bots, ban users, and manipulate packs, indicating they have some level of control over the game servers, but not necessarily full control.
What would full control entail in the context of remote code execution?
-Full control would mean the attacker has the ability to execute code on all systems, including both the server and the client-side, which is more severe than the described situation.
What is required for an attacker to execute code on an end user's machine?
-For an attacker to execute code on an end user's machine, they would need remote code execution on the server and a separate vulnerability on the client that allows exploitation of the end user's system.
Why is it important to prove a connection between the server and client vulnerabilities?
-Proving the connection is essential to accurately assess the extent of the security breach and to understand what actions the attacker can perform on both the server and client sides.
What does the script suggest about the level of damage the attacker could potentially do?
-The script suggests that while the attacker can cause significant damage with the current vulnerabilities, the potential for harm could be much greater if they had full control over all systems.
How does the script differentiate between different types of servers in gaming infrastructure?
-The script differentiates by explaining the specific roles of authentication servers, game servers, and payment processing servers, each with its own set of responsibilities and security measures.
Outlines
😨 Fear of Remote Code Execution in Games
The speaker discusses how people are afraid to play or open a game due to fears surrounding remote code execution. The main issue is that many do not understand what remote code execution entails. The speaker plans to use a whiteboard to explain the concept, illustrating that an attacker can execute code on a server but not directly on a user's machine. This allows the attacker to modify the server's memory, ban players, generate packs, change lobbies, and more, depending on the server infrastructure.
🖥️ Understanding Server Vulnerabilities
The speaker explains that game servers are composed of various specialized servers, such as authentication servers for login, game servers for game state management, and servers for shops and payment processing. Remote code execution on a server does not grant the attacker access to all these components, but rather specific ones depending on the vulnerability. The speaker emphasizes that the attacker can summon bots, ban players by flagging their accounts, and create packs. These actions indicate limited execution capabilities, not full control over the entire server infrastructure.
🔍 Exploring Remote Code Execution Limits
Although the attacker can summon bots, ban players, and create packs, the speaker notes that these vulnerabilities do not show full control over the server. Full control would allow for much more damage. The speaker clarifies that having execution on a server does not mean execution on the end user's machine. To achieve that, another vulnerability would need to be exploited on the client side. Currently, the connection between server execution and client vulnerability cannot be proven, making it essential to establish this connection first.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Remote Code Execution
💡Server
💡Attacker's Computer
💡Game State
💡Authentication Server
💡Payment Processing
💡Vulnerability
💡Bot
💡Memory Modification
💡Client
Highlights
People are afraid to play the game due to a lack of understanding of remote code execution.
Remote code execution on a server allows an attacker to execute code from their machine, not the user's.
Attackers can modify memory and execute commands on the server, potentially banning users or altering game states.
Server infrastructure varies, with some handling login authentication and others managing in-game purchases and payments.
Access to purchase information and game servers indicates potential vulnerabilities but not necessarily full control.
Summoning bots, banning users, and creating packs are examples of actions that can be taken with certain access levels.
Full control would be much worse than the current level of access, indicating a more severe vulnerability.
Having execution on the server does not automatically grant execution on the end user's machine.
A second vulnerability on the client is necessary to achieve remote code execution on the end user's machine.
Proving the connection between server vulnerabilities and client vulnerabilities is crucial.
Different standards apply to payment processing information, highlighting the complexity of server management.
The distinction between server and client vulnerabilities is important for understanding the scope of potential attacks.
The potential for banning users or altering game states through server access is a significant concern.
Understanding the limitations of server vulnerabilities is key to assessing the true risk to users.
The need for a clear understanding of what remote code execution entails is emphasized to alleviate fears.
The potential for server-based attacks to impact user experience is a critical area of concern in game security.
Transcripts
but the thing is like people are like
people are like scared to like play the
game or open the game or whatever right
no so people are going to be super
afraid of this and I I think a lot of
the reason why is because they don't
understand what remote code execution is
they they don't understand this so let
me let me draw this on on the good old
whiteboard here let's say that the
attacker's computer is here and let's
say that your computer is here right
this is the server if the attacker has
remote code execution on the server it
means that they can execute code on this
machine from their machine it does not
mean that they can execute code on your
machine but it means that they can
modify memory and execute commands on
the server that means that they could do
things like ban you or generate packs or
change your Lobby or delete your Lobby
or anything else that goes on with this
depending on the server infrastructure
that's there now remember the server
instant is a solo thing there's
authentication servers that handle login
may not have access to that it could be
the actual game servers themselves so
just changing game state but not
changing anything outside of that there
may be servers that handle everything
with shops and payment processing
details because there's a bunch of
different standards that have to be
applied to payment processing
information totally different servers
right so there's lots of different
things that go into the server when
people talk about servers for games it's
not just one thing but it's very clear
that he has access to purchase and
information regarding how many packs
your account has and he has access to
the game servers because he can do
things like summoned a bunch of bots
right those alone does not necessarily
mean he has remote code execution on all
things because he could be doing a lot
more damage he has execution for two
things summoning Bots Banning actually
three things summoning Bots Banning
people by flagging their account for
easy anti Che and the last one is
creating like packs and then giving them
to people so those three vulnerabilities
are quite bad but it doesn't show full
control full control would be much worse
right now just because you have
execution on this machine doesn't mean
you have execution on the end users
machine you would have to have another
vulnerability what you would need to do
at that point is you have to have remote
code execution on the server and then
that would then chain into another
vulnerability that's on the client the
client would have to be vulnerable so
you could do that on the end user which
would be your game copy in this case we
can't prove this connection so it's
strange to say that that's the truth
right we have to prove the connection
first
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