Penetration Testing Saved Over Millions Of Credit Cards Being Leaked

In a world where cyber threats are a daily reality, the protection of sensitive data and systems is more important than ever. As businesses increasingly rely on digital solutions, they become more attractive targets for cyber attackers. In this environment, identifying vulnerabilities before they can be exploited is crucial. One effective method to achieve this is penetration testing. This case study examines a fictional scenario involving "Unnamed Company," a mid-sized financial services provider, and shows how penetration testing revealed serious security gaps.

Understanding Penetration Testing

Penetration testing, also called ethical hacking, invo lves simulating cyber-attacks on a system, network, or application to evaluate its security.

Its main goal is to uncover and exploit vulnerabilities before malicious attackers can do so. By doing this, companies verify that their security measures are effective and gain insight into their overall risk.

Given the rise of sophisticated cyber threats, penetration testing has become essential for many organizations. In a study by the Ponemon Institute, 67% of organizations reported having experienced a data breach due to security vulnerabilities.

Engaging skilled professionals for these tests helps companies implement necessary defenses and protect their assets from potential breaches.

Introduction

Hardcoded credentials are a severe security risk, often leading to unauthorized access to sensitive systems.

In this case study, our research team identified a payment system takeover where exposed credentials in a mobile application allowed us to retrieve thousands of credit card details, issue unauthorized refunds, and access sensitive personal data.

By uncovering these vulnerabilities, we helped the company prevent financial losses and protect customer data.

Background

A service-based company approached our team to evaluate the security of its mobile application. As a company handling sensitive payment information and personally identifiable information (PII), they wanted to ensure their systems were secure before any potential exploitation could occur.

During our assessment, we focused on hardcoded credentials within the application’s request flow. Our findings revealed a severe security risk, an exposed API key that provided direct access to the company’s payment processing system.

Identifying Hardcoded Credentials in the App Flow

Discovery Process

1. Intercepting Network Requests: We monitored API requests using Burp Suite while the mobile application was in use.

2. Observing Authorization Headers: During payment processing, we identified an authorization header containing an API key starting with [sk_].

3. Investigating Third-Party API Usage: By researching the third-party payment processor’s documentation, we assessed the potential risks associated with the exposed credentials.

Exploitation

With the discovered credentials, we were able to:

• Retrieve over 20,000 exposed credit card details, including expiry dates and full names.

• Access transaction details, including failed and successful payments.

• Issue unauthorized refunds, even exceeding the original transaction amounts.

  
  

Impact

The vulnerability posed significant risks. The exposure of hardcoded credentials led to massive financial losses due to unauthorized refunds and exposure of credit cards.

Additionally, the company faced non-compliance with data protection regulations, which could have resulted in hefty fines and legal repercussions.

Beyond financial damage, the security breach had the potential to cause severe reputational harm, undermining customer trust and impacting the company’s long-term credibility in the financial services industry.

Remediation Actions

Upon our discovery, we worked with the company to swiftly mitigate the issue by:

• Revoking and rotating API keys to prevent further unauthorized access.

• Removing hardcoded credentials from the application’s request flow.

Key Takeaways for Security Improvement

This case study highlights the importance of securing credentials and implementing best practices in application security. Hardcoded credentials can lead to serious security breaches, putting financial data and customer trust at risk.

At Catchify, we help businesses strengthen their security posture by identifying vulnerabilities before they become threats.

Our penetration testing and Pay On Catch services offer organizations a proactive approach to safeguarding their digital assets, ensuring compliance, and preventing costly breaches.

By working with our team, companies can enhance their security strategies, mitigate risks, and stay ahead of potential cyber threats.

Partner with us to stay ahead of security risks and build a resilient digital infrastructure.