Hack CCTV Camera
While progress has been made in recent years, many CCTV cameras remain vulnerable to attacks. Attackers have developed a wide range of methods to bypass security protocols and gain access to video surveillance systems.
Some use very simple exploits that take minutes, while others prefer more sophisticated intrusions that even penetrate protected systems. While their methods vary, talented hackers can infiltrate your home security system or corporate surveillance network. Once inside, they can use remote access to view the world through your cameras – or perhaps even take control of them.
Raising the security bar is, first of all, the whole point of installing CCTV cameras. Thus, these vulnerabilities largely negate the goal of investing in a surveillance system.
The entire industry received a wake-up call about this reality after it was revealed in 2017 that more than half a dozen Hikvision-branded Wi-Fi cameras are being accessed through a backdoor password reset vulnerability.
The problem was creating awkward headlines (the hashtag #hakvision was spreading on social media). ICS-Cert, an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security, characterized the vulnerability as “available for remote exploitation” with “low skill to exploit.”
While this incident has raised general awareness, many organizations are still lagging far behind in securing their camera systems. To be better prepared, all businesses need to understand the following three methods that are most commonly used by criminals to gain unauthorized access to CCTV cameras.
Hack CCTV Camera Method – 01
By Using Default Password Access.
Anyone looking to hack CCTV cameras can start by simply looking up their IP address on the Internet and logging in. Using mechanisms like angryip.org or shadon.io, they can get this signature information and start trying passwords that will give access to the wireless camera itself or, in the event of an attack on the router, entire security systems.
In theory, this should be difficult and IP security should protect network data, but the shocking reality is that these passwords are often identical to the factory defaults provided by the manufacturer. In the case of the Hikvision hack, it was known as “12345” with the username “admin”.
Changing the default passwords for a new CCTV system shouldn’t be a problem these days. So the lesson is to watch out for the little details. All firewalls and secure network protocols in the world will not help if an unauthorized user can simply log in with a commonly used or factory password to gain remote access to indoor-outdoor surveillance.
Hack CCTV Camera Method – 02
By Finding the User ID.
When CCTV cameras are harder to hack, attackers can look for a user ID instead. This was easy to find in the cookie value for Hikvision. The hackers can then reset the account to get full operation of the device, its hard drives, and possibly the security of the wireless network in general.
“Although the user ID is a hashed key, we found a way to find out the user ID of another user simply by knowing the email address, phone number or username they used when registering,” average user Vangelis Stick as wrote earlier this year, even after Hikvision. worked on fixing known flaws.
“After that,” the writer continued, “you can watch the live feed from the camera / DVR [DVR], operate the DVR, change the user’s email/phone address and password, and effectively block it.”
Hack CCTV Camera Method – 03
By Finding The Command Lines.
The key flaw in the case of Hikvision was the backdoor command line of code on the system, which provided administrator-level access when compromised.
As soon as this became known, the Chinese company discovered and corrected the flaw. The patch was then included in subsequent firmware updates for all CCTV cameras with known vulnerabilities.
Hikvision has publicly stated that the code was a holdover from the testing phase that the developers did not remove prior to launch.
Despite all the press in the security community, many operators never install the latest firmware on their security cameras. As such, this flaw is likely to continue to be exploited even by novice hackers.
Conclusion
Hikvision is not alone, but its shortcomings have shown that weaknesses exist in even some of the most widely used indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras on the market.
This does not mean that businesses should simply change the model of their wireless security cameras and rely on protection.
Constant vigilance combined with security intelligence is a powerful combination. All organizations must strive to strengthen these critical components, both internally and in terms of partnerships with trusted companies.
By working with vendors who put security first on their agenda, you can relax knowing that both indoor and outdoor CCTV cameras at your facilities are protected from evolving threats.
Many organizations are beginning to realize that traditional video surveillance technologies are simply not made for this new era of connectivity. Forward-thinking companies are increasingly looking for revolutionary solutions to improve the safety and productivity of their operations.
By using the latest technology standards to unleash the potential of computer vision, today’s video surveillance service providers will be the ones to help their customers solve real-life business problems – today and in the future.
