$0 USD

JUNE 2024

GLOBAL

AUTHY

DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS

"Authy is the long-standing two-factor authentication app that is meant to make logging in to services more secure. Most recently, it dropped support for all desktop platforms, including the Mac, in favor of its iPhone and Android apps."

 

"Enable 2FA for your favorite sites. Go beyond the password and protect yourself from hackers and account takeovers."

 

"Defeat cyber criminals & avoid account takeovers with stronger security, for free!"

 

"Relying on just usernames and passwords to secure your online accounts is no longer considered safe. Data breaches occur daily and hackers are always inventing new ways to take over your accounts. Protect yourself by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA). This blocks anyone using your stolen data by verifying your identity through your device. Enable 2FA now to protect your accounts online."

 

The vulnerability stemmed from an API endpoint lacking authentication, allowing attackers to query phone numbers and receive account-related information. Twilio has since implemented authentication on the endpoint. The incident raises concerns about phishing attacks targeting Authy users. [CPO]

 

"23pds, the CISO at SlowMist, tweeted that the 2FA service Authy has been hacked, resulting in the theft of the phone numbers of 33 million users. If you are an Authy user, please be vigilant against phishing attacks. The official developer, Twilio, has confirmed the vulnerability. Many professionals in the crypto industry use this 2FA software, so please ensure the security of your assets."

 

"Authy, the popular 2FA service second only to Google Authenticator, has been hacked, compromising the phone numbers of 33 million users! If you are an Authy user, be wary of phishing attacks! The official developer Twilio has now confirmed the vulnerability, and a large number of practitioners in the cryptocurrency industry use this 2FA software, so keep your assets safe."

 

"In a post on a well-known hacking forum, the hacker or hackers known as ShinyHunters wrote that they hacked Twilio and obtained the cell phone numbers of 33 million users."

 

Twilio spokesperson Kari Ramirez told TechCrunch that the company “has detected that threat actors were able to identify data associated with Authy accounts, including phone numbers, due to an unauthenticated endpoint. We have taken action to secure this endpoint and no longer allow unauthenticated requests.”

 

“We have seen no evidence that the threat actors obtained access to Twilio’s systems or other sensitive data. As a precaution, we are requesting all Authy users to update to the latest Android and iOS apps for the latest security updates and encourage all Authy users to stay diligent and have heightened awareness around phishing and smishing attacks,” Ramirez wrote in an email.

 

"Now Twilio, developer of the app, has confirmed in a blog post that it was hacked, in what it says was a limited way. Without saying how many people were affected, the company says the hack was confined to phone numbers."

 

"Twilio believes that the security of our products and our customers’ data is of paramount importance and when an incident occurs that might threaten that security, we tell you about it.

 

Twilio has detected that threat actors were able to identify data associated with Authy accounts, including phone numbers, due to an unauthenticated endpoint. We have taken action to secure this endpoint and no longer allow unauthenticated requests.

 

We have seen no evidence that the threat actors obtained access to Twilio’s systems or other sensitive data. As a precaution, we are requesting that all Authy users update to the latest Android and iOS apps for the latest security updates. While Authy accounts are not compromised, threat actors may try to use the phone number associated with Authy accounts for phishing and smishing attacks; we encourage all Authy users to stay diligent and have heightened awareness around the texts they are receiving."

 

"“If attackers are able to enumerate a list of user’s phone numbers, then those attackers can pretend to be Authy/Twilio to those users, increasing the believability in a phishing attack to that phone number,” Rachel Tobac, an expert in social engineering and CEO of SocialProof Security, told TechCrunch.

 

Tobac explained that now hackers can specifically target people who they know are Authy users, giving the attackers a chance to make it look like their malicious messages really come from Authy and Twilio."

Twilio Authy left an authentication server insecure such that users could query phone numbers to get basic information about the account status. This was queried repeatedly with phone numbers until eventually 33 million records were obtained. These records were then sold on the dark web. Twilio eventually admitted these numbers matched their records. These phone numbers could be used for phishing attacks and users need to be more cautious than normal.

Sources And Further Reading

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