As part of the CanSecWest’s Pwn2Own competition, Google is awarding a $20,000 prize to any hacker that can successfully exploit the Cr-48 Chrome laptop via a vulnerability and sandbox escape using the Chrome web browser.
At last year’s event, Google’s Chrome browser was the only browser left intact, but with the added incentive of this year’s prize, it might be a different story for Chrome.
The Challenge of Exploiting Chrome
According to the contest sponsors TippingPoint ZDI, a successful Chrome hack “must include a sandbox escape,” which means that a privilege escalation vulnerability may have to be combined with another security hole to cause full system compromise. This requirement significantly raises the bar for participants, as Chrome’s sandboxing technology is designed to isolate processes and prevent malicious code from affecting the rest of the system. It’s a great way for Google to get thousands of hackers testing the robustness of their browser for a relatively small fee.
The sandbox is a critical security feature in Chrome, acting as a barrier between the browser and the operating system. To breach this, hackers need to find a way to execute code outside of the browser’s restricted environment. This often involves chaining multiple vulnerabilities together, making the task even more challenging. For instance, a hacker might need to exploit a memory corruption bug to gain initial access and then use a separate flaw to escape the sandbox.
Broader Implications and Other Prizes
Other cash prizes are also available for hackers who can use unpublished (zero-day) browser flaws to remotely launch code against either 64-bit Windows 7 or Mac OS X machines using the major browsers’ latest release candidates. These prizes highlight the importance of discovering and patching security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors in the wild.
The Pwn2Own competition serves as a valuable platform for both security researchers and software companies. For researchers, it offers a chance to demonstrate their skills and earn significant rewards. For companies like Google, it provides an opportunity to identify and fix vulnerabilities in their products, thereby enhancing security for all users. The competition has a history of leading to important security improvements across various software platforms.
In addition to the monetary rewards, successful participants gain recognition and credibility within the cybersecurity community. This can lead to further career opportunities and collaborations. The competition also fosters a spirit of healthy competition and innovation, driving researchers to develop new techniques and tools for vulnerability discovery and exploitation.
The stakes are high, and the challenges are formidable, but the potential rewards make it an enticing endeavor for skilled hackers. As the competition evolves, so do the techniques and strategies employed by participants. This continuous evolution ensures that the Pwn2Own competition remains at the forefront of cybersecurity research and development.
Overall, the Pwn2Own competition and Google’s involvement underscore the critical importance of proactive security measures and the collaborative efforts needed to protect users from emerging threats. By incentivizing the discovery of vulnerabilities, these initiatives contribute to a safer and more secure digital landscape.
Via Geek
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