According to an employee with knowledge of the system, the password to the Louvre's video surveillance system was simply "Louvre" at the time of the robbery last month.
Usually, there’s a network for IP cameras, with a central server holding the video. There’s then, usually, a firewall to anything outside that, and frequently just a hardline to a monitoring system. (another computer with lots of monitors, typically.)
Most modern systems can VPN to the firewall and run a client there via remote desktop, and then access the monitoring system that way; but the server itself is not.
As to the complexity of the password, typically there’s different levels of permissions. The basic ones would just let you monitor real time, probably review recordings, and maybe rip those recordings. (but not change settings, or otherwise delete anything.) A place like the Lourve would have multiple guard stations connecting in on the local network; with dozens of guards watching cameras at any given time; and would each need their own account/logins if you wanted to make the password actually complex.
a large part of the problem is just the sheer amount of people that would need to have acounts- the lourve says they have ~1300 ‘reception and security’ staff. (for the record, reception would also be part of the security envelope… though they probably wouldn’t need the password.)
anyone dialing in from off sight would likely have their own password (and have elevated permissions to allow that.). Frequently, by remote desktoping into a system on the local network.
You’ll also notice theyre not saying the security system was actually compromised- even if the cameras were pointed the right way, they’d still have gotten in and out because the windows were a point of vulnerability. They might have been able to respond faster, but they were in and out in ten minutes. a camera wouldn’t be able to stop that, if you account for normal human reaction times… if they’d even notice the ‘contractors’.
You’ll also notice theyre not saying the security system was actually compromised- even if the cameras were pointed the right way, they’d still have gotten in and out because the windows were a point of vulnerability. They might have been able to respond faster, but they were in and out in ten minutes. a camera wouldn’t be able to stop that, if you account for normal human reaction times… if they’d even notice the ‘contractors’.
This,
Camera are useless at stopping/preventing crime. Thanks to the Camera 5 persons have been charged and wait their trial in jail but camera won’t prevent a jackasss to steal something in a museum
I’ve known clients that have never removed the default admin account, with a default admin password… and looked at me like I had a horn growing out my ear…
I’ll admit it, I have systems at work with weak or default passwords. But they don’t handle any sensitive information, and exploiting them wouldn’t get you any additional privileges on the network.
that’s just it… any vulnerable system lets them get their nose in the door, then the camel starts snooping around the tent for whatever it can get. Eventually, they find away to something juicy.
The thing is, whether we’re talking about digital or physical security, the weakest thing in any system is the humans. The sloppy passwords (c’mon it should have been Louvre25! lol.) is a human thing. clicking that phising scam is a human thing. kipping off to the egyption bedroom for tryste with receptionist is a human thing.
the simple password isn’t the problem. The people being complacent is.
Until someone figures out how to use this non critical system to exploit other parts of your network. An ssh shell on an internet connected coffee machine in a bank would make a great starting point to gain access to more critical systems for example.
Usually, there’s a network for IP cameras, with a central server holding the video. There’s then, usually, a firewall to anything outside that, and frequently just a hardline to a monitoring system. (another computer with lots of monitors, typically.)
Most modern systems can VPN to the firewall and run a client there via remote desktop, and then access the monitoring system that way; but the server itself is not.
As to the complexity of the password, typically there’s different levels of permissions. The basic ones would just let you monitor real time, probably review recordings, and maybe rip those recordings. (but not change settings, or otherwise delete anything.) A place like the Lourve would have multiple guard stations connecting in on the local network; with dozens of guards watching cameras at any given time; and would each need their own account/logins if you wanted to make the password actually complex.
a large part of the problem is just the sheer amount of people that would need to have acounts- the lourve says they have ~1300 ‘reception and security’ staff. (for the record, reception would also be part of the security envelope… though they probably wouldn’t need the password.)
anyone dialing in from off sight would likely have their own password (and have elevated permissions to allow that.). Frequently, by remote desktoping into a system on the local network.
You’ll also notice theyre not saying the security system was actually compromised- even if the cameras were pointed the right way, they’d still have gotten in and out because the windows were a point of vulnerability. They might have been able to respond faster, but they were in and out in ten minutes. a camera wouldn’t be able to stop that, if you account for normal human reaction times… if they’d even notice the ‘contractors’.
This, Camera are useless at stopping/preventing crime. Thanks to the Camera 5 persons have been charged and wait their trial in jail but camera won’t prevent a jackasss to steal something in a museum
Also, this was found by an audit years ago. Doesn’t mean it was fixed, but doesn’t mean it was still the same during or after the theft.
At least it wasn’t the default password.
I’ve known clients that have never removed the default admin account, with a default admin password… and looked at me like I had a horn growing out my ear…
I’ll admit it, I have systems at work with weak or default passwords. But they don’t handle any sensitive information, and exploiting them wouldn’t get you any additional privileges on the network.
that’s just it… any vulnerable system lets them get their nose in the door, then the camel starts snooping around the tent for whatever it can get. Eventually, they find away to something juicy.
The thing is, whether we’re talking about digital or physical security, the weakest thing in any system is the humans. The sloppy passwords (c’mon it should have been Louvre25! lol.) is a human thing. clicking that phising scam is a human thing. kipping off to the egyption bedroom for tryste with receptionist is a human thing.
the simple password isn’t the problem. The people being complacent is.
Until someone figures out how to use this non critical system to exploit other parts of your network. An ssh shell on an internet connected coffee machine in a bank would make a great starting point to gain access to more critical systems for example.
There was a story a few years back about a casino getting hacked through a smart thermometer in a fish tank.
the Target hack went in through the HVAC system.