Hackers Using Law Enforcement Tools to Access iCloud Backups Unprotected by Two-Factor Authentication

MacRumors · Sep 2, 2014

Earlier today, Apple issued a press release stating that an iCloud/Find My iPhone breach had not been responsible for the leak of several private celebrity photos over the weekend, instead pointing towards a "very targeted attack on user names, passwords, and security questions" hackers used to gain access to celebrity accounts.

The company did not divulge specific details on how hackers accessed the iCloud accounts, leading Wired writer Andy Greenberg to investigate the methods that hackers might possibly have used to acquire the stolen media.

Greenberg visited Anon-IB, a popular anonymous image board where some of the celebrity photos first originated, and discovered that hackers openly discuss exploiting software designed for law enforcement and government officials. Called ElcomSoft Phone Password Breaker (EPPB), the software in question lets hackers enter a stolen username and password to obtain a victim's full iPhone/iPad backup.

"Use the script to hack her passwd...use eppb to download the backup," wrote one anonymous user on Anon-IB explaining the process to a less-experienced hacker. "Post your wins here ;-)"

Acquiring just a user name and password allows hackers access to content on iCloud.com, but with the accompaniment of the ElcomSoft software, a complete backup can reportedly be downloaded into easy-to-access folders filled with the device's contents.

According to security researcher Jonathan Zdziarski, who spoke to Wired, metadata from some of the leaked photos is in line with the use of the ElcomSoft software and possibly the iBrute software, which exploited a vulnerability in Find My iPhone to allow hackers unlimited attempts to guess a password. Apple has, however, patched the exploit, and has suggested iBrute was not a factor in the attacks.

As noted by TechCrunch, using ElcomSoft's software to download an iPhone's backup successfully circumvents two-factor verification as the two-factor authentication system does not cover iCloud backups or Photo Stream.

Two-factor verification can make it much more difficult for hackers to acquire a user's login credentials in the first place, preventing many attacks, but an iCloud backup can be installed with just a user name and a password.

The ElcomSoft software does not require any credentials to buy and while it costs $399, it is also available on bittorrent sites. The vulnerability in iCloud backups has been known for some time, with ElcomSoft's own CEO pointing towards the lack of two-factor authentication for iCloud backups back in May of 2013.

Apple has explored expanding two-factor authentication to some iCloud services, but an official expansion of the security feature has not yet been introduced.

Article Link: Hackers Using Law Enforcement Tools to Access iCloud Backups Unprotected by Two-Factor Authentication

krashx7 · Sep 2, 2014

The Fappening 2014. Never forget

sputnikv · Sep 2, 2014

the plot thickens

mozumder · Sep 2, 2014

Another attack vector.

Not sure why Apple allows outside vendors access to their cloud?

The worst part is that Elcomsoft documents these holes, and Apple has no reason to keep open.

Also, Elcomsoft has Windows Live exploits available as well.

apolloa · Sep 2, 2014

I think you need to change the headline for this article, so you are not claiming that someones opinion is fact.

Hackers Using Law Enforcement Tools to Access iCloud Backups Unprotected by Two-Factor Authentication

Should be changed to:

Hackers May Be Using Law Enforcement Tools to Access iCloud Backups Unprotected by Two-Factor Authentication

DerekRod · Sep 2, 2014

Jesus H Christ this is terrible,sexy,but terrible

mozumder · Sep 2, 2014

The ripping process, which has been going on for months:

Lots of security holes here, including weak password reset verification questions.

iSRS · Sep 2, 2014

There is good to come of all this

I suspect by year end, Photos in iCloud, iCloud Backups, everything, will all be encrypted.

Santabean2000 · Sep 2, 2014

It seems there are no end if tricks available to the scumbags out there willing to do hurtful things.

However, bottom line (pun intended) is, if you want nude snaps of yourself, fine, take some, but don't keep them on your phone or in the cloud where they are most vulnerable.

While I have some sympathy for the victims, I also believe ignorance is not really an excuse these days.

People have to accept more responsibility for their actions, even if the consequences are far beyond what they initially imagined. The sad fact is in our cottonwool society is far easier to blame everyone else for everything than accept some responsibility personally. If you don't agree then you're part of the problem.

SandboxGeneral · Sep 2, 2014

Good thing I back up to iTunes locally and not iCloud. Though my Photo Stream could still be compromised. But it'd be quite boring to a hacker. I mostly have pictures of coffee and espresso and song titles from my car radio that I want to look up later!

swingerofbirch · Sep 2, 2014

Interesting timing with Apple about to come out with a mobile payments system.

haruhiko · Sep 2, 2014

starbird said:
I suspect by year end, Photos in iCloud, iCloud Backups, everything, will all be encrypted.

They should be already encrypted. But the so called hacker has your password, which can decrypt the encrypted data.

DipDog3 · Sep 2, 2014

I'm surprised backups don't use two step authentication. This is a bad move by Apple.

jlake02 · Sep 2, 2014

starbird said:
I suspect by year end, Photos in iCloud, iCloud Backups, everything, will all be encrypted.

Let's hope so. Regardless whether Apple was at fault this incident is giving them a PR black eye... right before their big Sept. 9 reveal.

:apple:

----------

swingerofbirch said:
Interesting timing with Apple about to come out with a mobile payments system.

EXACTLY lololol

:apple:

Trapezoid · Sep 2, 2014

mozumder said:
The ripping process, which has been going on for months:
Image
Image
Image

Lots of security holes here, including weak password reset verification questions.

Seems like some of these "hacks"can be used on any site you can think of. Pretty scary.

I don't know how any company can prevent things like this.

Couple that with weak or same passwords across multiple sites and it becomes easy for anyone to do this.

jdawgnoonan · Sep 2, 2014

If, and that obviously is an IF, that is what happened then Apple should not claim that the images were not stolen due to weaknesses in their security. In fact, this is an even bigger potential hole in their security in my opinion. And to those who want to make it the victims fault that these photos were stolen: You are messed up in the head.

henzpwnapple · Sep 2, 2014

Once it is on the internet, it is never secured.

xli_ne · Sep 2, 2014

i still don't understand how they got their username/email address

SandboxGeneral · Sep 2, 2014

xli_ne said:
i still don't understand how they got their username/email address

Social engineering, the black web, search engines and such, plus a ring of underground bad guys collaborating, together, achieve this and more.

Rogifan · Sep 2, 2014

apolloa said:
I think you need to change the headline for this article, so you are not claiming that someones opinion is fact.

Hackers Using Law Enforcement Tools to Access iCloud Backups Unprotected by Two-Factor Authentication

Should be changed to:

Hackers May Be Using Law Enforcement Tools to Access iCloud Backups Unprotected by Two-Factor Authentication

Yes, this headline is VERY misleading.

haruhiko · Sep 2, 2014

mozumder said:
The ripping process, which has been going on for months:
Image
Image
Image

Lots of security holes here, including weak password reset verification questions.

Just tried the step suggested by these guys.

Well, the security questions are really dumb! I entered an e-mail address of a friend and entered the birthday. Then I was asked: what is your hometown? WTF everybody knows this guy's hometown!

I didn't go any further but it made me very worried about my security questions. I'd better enter some password like stuff in the answer fields.

trevorbsmith · Sep 2, 2014

MacRumors said:
but it appears enabling two-factor authentication would not stop iCloud backup hacks conducted with the Phone Password Breaker.

Article Link: Hackers Using Law Enforcement Tools to Access iCloud Backups Unprotected by Two-Factor Authentication

Sigh. No.

The 2-factor authentication Apple has set up works specifically to stop people from guessing/researching/finding answers to your "security questions" (by actually eliminating all security questions). This stops them from resetting your password, thus gaining access to your iCloud account, thus gaining access to your iPhone backups.

Therefore it WOULD in fact have stopped the iCloud backup "hacks" conducted, at least those conducted by the n00bs on AnonIB. They are specifically laying out the method they use in step by step instructions. They are not haxxors, they are not the NSA, they are not brute forcing passwords, they do not have skillz. They are just researching info on people, then going to appleid.apple.com and resetting passwords.

Jeez. Fact check anyone?

Would it be better if Apple prevented restores/downloads of iPhone backups without a trusted device being present? Yes. Would that step be necessary to stop the "hackers" in question? No. These guys are not even script kiddies. They are literally just filling out fields on a web site to get these pics.

In short, ignore the implied "the sky is falling" in this post.

DO enable 2-factor authentication on your apple id.

DO also tell Apple to increase their 2-factor authentication to prevent even more things.

But do not imagine that your iCloud account is somehow going to be magically hacked even if you set-up 2-factor authentication (and are smart enough to use a longish, randomish password).

DipDog3 · Sep 2, 2014

xli_ne said:
i still don't understand how they got their username/email address

Hacked friends or family. Personal assists, business associates, or stolen off business documents by some low-level employee. Social engineering of the person or people who would know the address.

Even your local Apple Genius could help one of these celebrities or their assistants & they would have access to all of their info.

haruhiko · Sep 2, 2014

trevorbsmith said:
Sigh. No.

The 2-factor authentication Apple has set up works specifically to stop people from guessing/researching/finding answers to your "security questions" (by actually eliminating all security questions). This stops them from resetting your password, thus gaining access to your iCloud account, thus gaining access to your iPhone backups.

Therefore it WOULD in fact have stopped the iCloud backup "hacks" conducted, at least those conducted by the n00bs on AnonIB. They are specifically laying out the method they use in step by step instructions. They are not haxxors, they are not the NSA, they are not brute forcing passwords, they do not have skillz. They are just researching info on people, then going to appleid.apple.com and resetting passwords.

Jeez. Fact check anyone?

Would it be better if Apple prevented restores/downloads of iPhone backups without a trusted device being present? Yes. Would that step be necessary to stop the "hackers" in question? No. These guys are not even script kiddies. They are literally just filling out fields on a web site to get these pics.

In short, ignore the implied "the sky is falling" in this post.

DO enable 2-factor authentication on your apple id.

DO also tell Apple to increase their 2-factor authentication to prevent even more things.

But do not imagine that your iCloud account is somehow going to be magically hacked even if you set-up 2-factor authentication (and are smart enough to use a longish, randomish password).

Just tried my own accounts with 2-step verification enabled. Apple requested me to enter my recovery key (I remember I stored them on my laptop) once after I entered my e-mail address.

VenusianSky · Sep 2, 2014

starbird said:
I suspect by year end, Photos in iCloud, iCloud Backups, everything, will all be encrypted.

There is a problem with this. If you get a new phone, it won't be able to decrypt the backup/files unless it has the private key. If encryption keys are stored on the server (iCloud account), anyone would be able to decrypt as long as they can get into the account. Good idea, but difficult to implement, as with anything that uses file encryption.

Hackers Using Law Enforcement Tools to Access iCloud Backups Unprotected by Two-Factor Authentication

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