SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft on Thursday warned thousands of its cloud computing customers, including some of the world's largest companies, that intruders could have the ability to read, change or even delete their main databases, according to a copy of the email and a cyber security researcher.
The vulnerability is in Microsoft Azure's flagship Cosmos DB database. A research team at security company Wiz discovered it was able to access keys that control access to databases held by thousands of companies. Wiz Chief Technology Officer Ami Luttwak is a former chief technology officer at Microsoft's Cloud Security Group.
Because Microsoft cannot change those keys by itself, it emailed the customers Thursday telling them to create new ones. Microsoft agreed to pay Wiz $40,000 for finding the flaw and reporting it, according to an email it sent to Wiz.
"We fixed this issue immediately to keep our customers safe and protected. We thank the security researchers for working under coordinated vulnerability disclosure," Microsoft told Reuters.
Microsoft's email to customers said there was no evidence the flaw had been exploited. "We have no indication that external entities outside the researcher (Wiz) had access to the primary read-write key," the email said.
“This is the worst cloud vulnerability you can imagine. It is a long-lasting secret,” Luttwak told Reuters. “This is the central database of Azure, and we were able to get access to any customer database that we wanted.”
Luttwak's team found the problem, dubbed ChaosDB, on Aug. 9 and notified Microsoft Aug. 12, Luttwak said.
The flaw was in a visualization tool called Jupyter Notebook, which has been available for years but was enabled by default in Cosmos beginning in February. After Reuters reported on the flaw, Wiz detailed the issue in a blog post.
Luttwak said even customers who have not been notified by Microsoft could have had their keys swiped by attackers, giving them access until those keys are changed. Microsoft only told customers whose keys were visible this month, when Wiz was working on the issue.
Microsoft told Reuters that "customers who may have been impacted received a notification from us," without elaborating.
The disclosure comes after months of bad security news for Microsoft. The company was breached by the same suspected Russian government hackers that infiltrated SolarWinds, who stole Microsoft source code. Then a wide number of hackers broke into Exchange email servers while a patch was being developed.
A recent fix for a printer flaw that allowed computer takeovers had to be redone repeatedly. Another Exchange flaw last week prompted an urgent U.S. government warning that customers need to install patches issued months ago because ransomware gangs are now exploiting it.
Problems with Azure are especially troubling, because Microsoft and outside security experts have been pushing companies to abandon most of their own infrastructure and rely on the cloud for more security.
But though cloud attacks are more rare, they can be more devastating when they occur. What's more, some are never publicized.
A federally contracted research lab tracks all known security flaws in software and rates them by severity. But there is no equivalent system for holes in cloud architecture, so many critical vulnerabilities remain undisclosed to users, Luttwak said.
Reuters
Fri Aug 27 2021
![Exclusive - Microsoft warns thousands of cloud customers of exposed databases Exclusive - Microsoft warns thousands of cloud customers of exposed databases](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/41630047363_MICROSOFT.jpg)
Because Microsoft cannot change those keys by itself, it emailed the customers telling them to create new ones. - REUTERS
AWANI Ringkas: Tuntutan RM100 juta tidak berasas
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI Borneo [07/07/2024] - Tiada kemalangan jiwa | PRN Sabah | Maal Hijrah 2024
Awani Borneo 7 Julai 2024 bersama Jasmine Abu Bakar;
1. Dua rumah musnah dalam kebakaran di Kundasang
2. Sabah tidak perlu parti luar, perkukuh blok Borneo - Shadie Apdal
3. Yang di-Pertuan Agong gesa kerajaan tingkat kuatkuasa kandungan ajaran sesat
1. Dua rumah musnah dalam kebakaran di Kundasang
2. Sabah tidak perlu parti luar, perkukuh blok Borneo - Shadie Apdal
3. Yang di-Pertuan Agong gesa kerajaan tingkat kuatkuasa kandungan ajaran sesat
![Exists, Ungu ‘berentap’ di pentas konsert pada 14 Julai ini Exists, Ungu ‘berentap’ di pentas konsert pada 14 Julai ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720350574_ExistsUngu.jpg)
Exists, Ungu ‘berentap’ di pentas konsert pada 14 Julai ini
Bakal berlangsung selama 3 jam setengah ini, konsert ini akan dipenuhi dengan lagu-lagu hit daripada dua buah kumpulan ini.
Urus tadbir perlu bersifat telus, ambil kira cabaran rakyat
Premier Sarawak, Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg mahu urus tadbir wilayah itu sentiasa mengambil kira cabaran yang dihadapi oleh manusia sejagat.
Pendekatan agresif noktahkan miskin tegar di Sabah
Kerajaan Negeri Sabah terus mengambil pendekatan bersifat agresif bagi menoktahkan isu miskin tegar di Sabah.
Graduan Iban pertama Universiti Al-Azhar penerima Anugerah Ma’al Hijrah Sarawak 1446H
Graduan Iban pertama yang melanjutkan pengajian ke Universiti Al-Azhar di Kaherah, Mesir antara 14 penerima yang menerima Anugerah Ma’al Hijrah Sarawak pada Majlis Perhimpunan Ma’al Hijrah Peringkat Sarawak Tahun 1446H/2024M di Hikmah Exchange Event Centre, Kuching hari ini.
![Remaja Asia: Khai Xing-Aaron gagal akhiri kemarau tujuh tahun Malaysia Remaja Asia: Khai Xing-Aaron gagal akhiri kemarau tujuh tahun Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720347946_Badminton.jpg)
Remaja Asia: Khai Xing-Aaron gagal akhiri kemarau tujuh tahun Malaysia
Beregu lelaki negara Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai gagal mengakhiri kemarau kejuaraan selama tujuh tahun Malaysia di Kejohanan Badminton Remaja Asia.
Sabah tidak perlu parti luar, perkukuh blok Borneo - Shafie
Presiden Parti Warisan, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal memberitahu parti berasal dari Sarawak tidak perlu memasuki Sabah untuk mengukuhkan kerjasama blok borneo.
Dua rumah musnah dalam kebakaran di Kundasang
Dua buah rumah jenis separuh kekal musnah dalam kebakaran di Kampung Lembai Permai, Kundasang pada Ahad.
KKM peruntukkan RM21.5 juta naik taraf 58 klinik daif Sabah
KKM memperuntukkan RM21.5 juta untuk menaik taraf 58 klinik kesihatan daif di seluruh negeri Sabah.
![Microsoft sedang bangunkan ciri Continue from Phone untuk pengguna OneDrive Microsoft sedang bangunkan ciri Continue from Phone untuk pengguna OneDrive](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71719808682_Microsoft.jpg)
Microsoft sedang bangunkan ciri Continue from Phone untuk pengguna OneDrive
Ciri ini terhad untuk pengguna peranti Android sahaja.
![Microsoft didakwa oleh EU berkaitan akta antimonopoli Microsoft didakwa oleh EU berkaitan akta antimonopoli](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719376090_TBTeams.jpg)
Microsoft didakwa oleh EU berkaitan akta antimonopoli
Microsoft didakwa oleh Kesatuan Eropah (EU) kerana penawaran perisian telesidang Teams mereka didapati melanggar akta antimonopoli.
![Microsoft kembali atasi Apple, NVIDIA sebagai syarikat paling bernilai di dunia Microsoft kembali atasi Apple, NVIDIA sebagai syarikat paling bernilai di dunia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719200626_Microsoft.jpg)
Microsoft kembali atasi Apple, NVIDIA sebagai syarikat paling bernilai di dunia
Microsoft berada di kedudukan teratas dengan nilai pasaran $3.343 trilion (RM 15.75 trilion), dengan Apple di tangga kedua dengan nilai $3.191 trilion, dan NVIDIA pula dengan nilai $3.113 trilion.
![Kerjasama MCMC-Microsoft teroka manfaat industri AI Kerjasama MCMC-Microsoft teroka manfaat industri AI](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61718942704_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Kerjasama MCMC-Microsoft teroka manfaat industri AI
Ia akan meneroka manfaat sosioekonomi AI, termasuk usaha mempersiapkan tenaga kerja masa hadapan dengan pengetahuan AI dan kemahiran digital.
![Hasil pelaburan asing perlu diterjemah menerusi program beri manfaat kepada rakyat Hasil pelaburan asing perlu diterjemah menerusi program beri manfaat kepada rakyat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51718875254_tbFahmiFadzil.jpg)
Hasil pelaburan asing perlu diterjemah menerusi program beri manfaat kepada rakyat
Kemasukan pelaburan asing yang besar perlu diterjemahkan menerusi program serta inisiatif yang memberi manfaat kepada rakyat.
![Kerangka kerja kawal selia urus AI dengan bijak, elak manipulasi - Fahmi Kerangka kerja kawal selia urus AI dengan bijak, elak manipulasi - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81718349610_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Kerangka kerja kawal selia urus AI dengan bijak, elak manipulasi - Fahmi
MCMC akan turut memberikan fokus kepada dasar dan inisiatif penting untuk sektor AI yang melibatkan industri komunikasi dan multimedia.
![NVIDIA atasi Microsoft sebagai syarikat paling bernilai NVIDIA atasi Microsoft sebagai syarikat paling bernilai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51717639416_NVIDIA.jpg)
NVIDIA atasi Microsoft sebagai syarikat paling bernilai
NVIDIA, Microsoft dan Apple kekal sebagai syarikat yang mempunyai nilai pasaran melebihi $3 trilion.
![Microsoft tamatkan GPT Builder, buang semua GPTs yang telah dibangunkan Microsoft tamatkan GPT Builder, buang semua GPTs yang telah dibangunkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81718164930_Microsoft.jpg)
Microsoft tamatkan GPT Builder, buang semua GPTs yang telah dibangunkan
Selari penamatan GPT Builder ini, Microsoft turut mengatakan akan membuang semua GPTs yang dihasilkan termasuk data berkaitan.
![Xbox Series X Digital Edition kini rasmi dengan storan 1TB Xbox Series X Digital Edition kini rasmi dengan storan 1TB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81717993250_tbXboxSeriesX.jpg)
Xbox Series X Digital Edition kini rasmi dengan storan 1TB
Turut diumumkan pagi ini ialah Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition dengan kemasan yang kelihatan seperti angkasa lepas.
![Google, Microsoft dan Intel tubuh UALink bangunkan piawaian terbuka penyambung pemecut cip AI Google, Microsoft dan Intel tubuh UALink bangunkan piawaian terbuka penyambung pemecut cip AI](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71717214350_UALink.jpg)
Google, Microsoft dan Intel tubuh UALink bangunkan piawaian terbuka penyambung pemecut cip AI
Dengan penglibatan syarikat-syarikat teknologi utama untuk menggunakan UALink, setiap ahli boleh menyumbang kepakaran mereka untuk faedah bersama.