• Gigabyte motherboards backdoor

    Author
    Topic
    #2563246

    https://eclypsium.com/blog/supply-chain-risk-from-gigabyte-app-center-backdoor/

    Recently, the Eclypsium platform began detecting suspected backdoor-like behavior within Gigabyte systems in the wild. These detections were driven by heuristic detection methods, which play an important role in detecting new, previously-unknown supply chain threats, where legitimate third-party technology products or updates have been compromised. Our follow-up analysis discovered that firmware in (UEFI) Gigabyte systems is dropping and executing a Windows native executable during the system startup process, and this executable then downloads and executes additional payloads insecurely. It uses the same techniques as other OEM backdoor-like features like Computrace backdoor (a.k.a. LoJack DoubleAgent) abused by threat actors and even firmware implants such as Sednit LoJax, MosaicRegressor, Vector-EDK. Subsequent analysis showed that this same code is present in hundreds of models of Gigabyte PCs. We are working with Gigabyte to address this insecure implementation of their app center capability…

    Gigabyte Affected Models

    2 users thanked author for this post.
    Viewing 2 reply threads
    Author
    Replies
    • #2563351

      in response, Gigabyte posted this recent news on June 1:

      GIGABYTE Fortifies System Security with Latest BIOS Updates and Enhanced Verification
      https://www.gigabyte.com/Press/News/2091

      also, from Tom’s Hardware – Gigabyte Rolls Out Firmware Update to Mend Firmware Backdoor
      https://www.tomshardware.com/news/gigabyte-firmware-update-backdoor

      1 user thanked author for this post.
      • #2563488

        in response, Gigabyte posted this recent news on June 1:

        GIGABYTE Fortifies System Security with Latest BIOS Updates and Enhanced Verification
        https://www.gigabyte.com/Press/News/2091

        also, from Tom’s Hardware – Gigabyte Rolls Out Firmware Update to Mend Firmware Backdoor
        https://www.tomshardware.com/news/gigabyte-firmware-update-backdoor

        Last time I checked, one of the vulnerable B365 motherboards (B365M-DS3H) did not yet receive a new BIOS to “fix” this issue.

        I wonder, is Gigabyte only providing fixes for “recent” motherboards. Older motherboards that are out of support or out of warranty (like those 3 B360/B365 motherboards listed as vulnerable) are out of luck?

        Also, I wonder whether motherboards that are not listed on that list but which still uses UEFI (like my even older GA-X99-UD4 on my main computer) can be considered as “safe”?

        I never use Gigabyte’s (or any other motherboard manufacturer’s) softwares like APP Center anyway. I especially don’t like automatic downloads and installs. Perhaps that is why I never see prompts for BIOS updates in Windows?

        Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

      • #2563533

        Not a word how the backdoor has been installed in BIOS

    • #2563557

      Go back and read the article.

      This wasn’t “surreptitiously” installed in their BIOS, it’s a “feature” Gigabyte deliberately built into their motherboards intended to “automatically” keep the drivers/firmware up-to-date.

      The problem is it insecurely connects to the internet to download those updates so it’s susceptible to being hacked using a MITM (man-in-the-middle) attack that redirects those download attempts to a nefarious site.

      BTW, Gigabyte isn’t the only motherboard manufacturer that does this.

      Asus motherboards include a similar payload in their BIOS called “ASUSUpdateCheck.exe” that gets installed into the OS every time it boots to automatically update drivers/firmware.

      1 user thanked author for this post.
    • #2564309

      GIGABYTE Fortifies System Security with Latest BIOS Updates and Enhanced Verification

      ..GIGABYTE engineers have already mitigated potential risks and uploaded the Intel 700/600 and AMD 500/400 series Beta BIOS to the official website after conducting thorough testing and validation of the new BIOS on GIGABYTE motherboards.

      To fortify system security, GIGABYTE has implemented stricter security checks during the operating system boot process. These measures are designed to detect and prevent any possible malicious activities, providing users with enhanced protection:..

      http://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    Reply To: Gigabyte motherboards backdoor

    You can use BBCodes to format your content.
    Your account can't use all available BBCodes, they will be stripped before saving.

    Your information: