Origin Bug Allows for Hijacking Player PCs, Installing Malware

Allows malicious users to craft booby-trapped links for executing on Origin user's computer.

Posted By | On 19th, Mar. 2013

origin_logo
Researchers from Malta-based ReVuln recently demonstrated at the Black hate security conference in Amsterdam this past Friday just how easy it is for some one to use the uniform resource identifiers on Origin, EA’s premier digital platform and online store, to start games on end user machines.

Essentially, by exploiting these flaws, that some one could use Origin to install malware on users’ computers.

Along with the demo, ReVuln researchers Donato Ferrante and Luigi Auriemma wrote an accompanying paper, stating, “The Origin platform allows malicious users to exploit local vulnerabilities or features by abusing the Origin URI handling mechanism. In other words, an attacker can craft a malicious Internet link to execute malicious code remotely on [a] victim’s system, which has Origin installed.”

An update from EA states “Our team is constantly investigating hypotheticals like this one as we continually update our security infrastructure.”

A similar attack was used for Valve’s Steam, which consisted of malicious links with “Steam://” that could be used to execute code which systems may find safe.

Source: ArsTechnica


Tagged With: , , ,

Keep On Reading!

PlayStation Plus PC App is Being Discontinued From December 10th

PlayStation Plus PC App is Being Discontinued From December 10th

Sony has said that the number of people using the app was tiny, coming it at just 0.4 percent of the overall s...

Kiln: Reshaped Update is Out November 12th, Brings New Modes, Local Couch Co-op, and More

Kiln: Reshaped Update is Out November 12th, Brings New Modes, Local Couch Co-op, and More

It’s time to get back to brawling with your pots with the major update dropping tomorrow at 10:30 AM PT, fre...

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Crosses 1 Million Sales

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Crosses 1 Million Sales

That’s quite a respectable number for a title that might not command the same popularity as its peers, espec...

Marathon’s Upcoming Social Space, Expedition PvE Mode, and More Revealed in New Symbiosis Gameplay

Marathon’s Upcoming Social Space, Expedition PvE Mode, and More Revealed in New Symbiosis Gameplay

Plus, you'll take on the Tick Queen with a new flamethrower while exploring a new co-op PvE mode and social sp...

Helldivers 2 Studio Addresses Easy Anti-Cheat Blocking Mods, Unclear Roadmap, and More

Helldivers 2 Studio Addresses Easy Anti-Cheat Blocking Mods, Unclear Roadmap, and More

Arrowhead Game Studios has confirmed that players can use cosmetic mods, but gameplay altering ones will be tr...

Black Forest Games Announces Split From THQ Nordic, Co-Founds Third Signal

Black Forest Games Announces Split From THQ Nordic, Co-Founds Third Signal

Third Signal is a way for Black Forest Games to continue working on the games it wants without being forced to...