750 million phones could be vulnerable in massive SIM security flaw

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The New York Times reports that a security researcher has found a vulnerability in the encryption used by some mobile SIM cards that could let hackers remotely take control of a phone. The flaw relates to cards using DES (Data Encryption Standard) for encryption — it's an older standard that's being phased out by some manufacturers, but is still used by hundreds of millions of SIMs.

Karsten Nohl, the founder of German firm Security Research Labs, discovered that sending a fake carrier message to a phone prompted an automated response from 25 percent of DES SIMs that revealed the cards' 56-bit security key. With that key in hand, Nohl was able to send a virus to the SIM with a text message. The virus allowed him to impersonate the phone's owner, intercept text messages, and even make carrier payments. The New York Times cites Nohl as claiming that the entire operation takes "about two minutes" using a regular PC.

Over the past two years, Nohl has tested his method on around 1,000 cards across North America and Europe. DES is used in around three billion mobile SIMs worldwide, of which Nohl estimates 750 million are vulnerable to the attack. Many carriers use SIMs with the stronger triple-DES encryption method, which are not susceptible to Nohl's method, and DES in general has been phased out in favor of AES (Advanced Encryption Standard).

The flaw has been disclosed to the GSMA, an association made up of mobile operators and other companies in the field that oversees the deployment of GSM networks. The GSMA has informed SIM manufacturers and other companies involved of the situation, who are all analyzing how to best deal with the flaw. With the "responsible disclosure" taken care of, Nohl will detail his attack method at the Black Hat security conference on August 1st. He also plans to publish a "comparative list" detailing the SIM card security of each mobile carrier in December. Hopefully by then the at-risk operators will have taken the necessary steps to neutralize the vulnerability.

Posted:
Related Forum: PC General Forum

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/21/4542782/sim-card-des-security-flaw-security-research-labs

Comments

"750 million phones could be vulnerable in massive SIM security flaw" :: Login/Create an Account :: 65 comments

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-CPPosted:

This does not affect the iPhone 4 and up, I believe.

FavismPosted:

i don't think this will effect anyone. also why would a researcher reveal this information? all it will do is cause massive panic and will give hackers the idea of doing it in the first place

CokesPosted:

I doubt this will actually do anything .

GossipPosted:

I dont see anyone really getting hacked...

RuinsPosted:

i hope my phone does not get involved

OasisPosted:

Useful information, let's hope they can prevent a serious issue.

LyquPosted:

Titanium Getting a new SIM card isn't that hard. Usually the carrier would give them to you for free especially with this going on.


True, I definitely hope my phone wont be involved though

IlIuminatiPosted:

All I could say is... Fail.

TitaniumPosted:

Getting a new SIM card isn't that hard. Usually the carrier would give them to you for free especially with this going on.

RuinsPosted:

oh dear, 750 million. Wow