Researchers from ETH Zurich have uncovered vital safety vulnerabilities in a number of extensively used end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) cloud storage companies.
The cryptographic flaws might enable attackers to bypass encryption, compromise file confidentiality, tamper with information, and even inject unauthorised recordsdata into customers’ storage.
The research analysed 5 E2EE cloud storage suppliers—Sync, pCloud, Seafile, Icedrive, and Tresorit—which collectively serve an estimated 22 million customers worldwide. Every of the companies guarantees strong encryption to safeguard recordsdata from unauthorised entry, even by the service supplier.
Nonetheless, researchers Jonas Hofmann and Kien Tuong Truong found that 4 of the 5 have extreme flaws which may weaken protections. Introduced on the ACM Convention on Laptop and Communications Safety (CCS), their findings spotlight potential gaps within the E2EE safety guarantees made by suppliers.
Tresorit stands out however isn’t flawless
Of the companies examined, Tresorit demonstrated the fewest vulnerabilities, with solely minor dangers of metadata tampering and non-authentic keys throughout file sharing. Though much less extreme, these points might nonetheless pose dangers in sure eventualities. In distinction, the opposite 4 companies exhibited extra substantial safety gaps, rising the probabilities of information publicity or tampering.
Key vulnerabilities and life like threats to E2EE
To guage the power of E2EE safety, researchers examined ten totally different assault eventualities, assuming the attacker had already gained management over a cloud server with permissions to learn, modify, or inject information. Although this degree of entry is unlikely, the research contends that E2EE must be efficient even beneath such circumstances. Some notable vulnerabilities are:
- Unauthenticated Key Materials: Each Sync and pCloud had been discovered to have unauthenticated encryption keys, permitting attackers to insert their very own keys, decrypt recordsdata, and entry delicate information.
- Public key substitution: Sync and Tresorit had been weak to unauthorised key alternative throughout file sharing, permitting attackers to intercept or change recordsdata.
- Protocol downgrade assault: The protocols utilized by Seafile allowed for a downgrade to weaker encryption requirements, making it extra weak to brute-force assaults.
Different dangers had been recognized in Icedrive and Seafile, which used unauthenticated encryption modes, permitting attackers to switch and corrupt file contents. Moreover, vulnerabilities within the “chunking” course of throughout a number of companies might compromise file integrity by permitting attackers to reorder, take away, or alter file items.
Supplier supplies responses and subsequent steps
In April 2024, the researchers shared their findings with Sync, pCloud, Seafile, and Icedrive, adopted by Tresorit in September. Responses diverse, with Sync and pCloud but to reply, Seafile making ready to patch the protocol downgrade difficulty, and Icedrive declining to deal with the considerations. Tresorit acknowledged receipt however declined to talk extra.
In accordance with a current BleepingComputer report, Sync indicated that they’re “fast-tracking fixes” and have already resolved a few of the documented information leak points with file-sharing hyperlinks.
ETH Zurich researchers consider these safety flaws are frequent throughout many E2EE cloud storage platforms, underscoring the necessity for additional investigation and a standardised protocol to make sure safe encryption within the business.
(Picture by Roman)
See additionally: Why corporations proceed to battle with cloud visibility – and code vulnerabilities
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