By not investigating the underlying weakness in Microsoft software that was key to the SolarWinds hack, the Cyber Safety Review Board missed an opportunity to prevent future attacks, experts say.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/24651183

After Russian intelligence launched one of the most devastating cyber espionage attacks in history against U.S. government agencies, the Biden administration set up a new board and tasked it to figure out what happened — and tell the public.

State hackers had infiltrated SolarWinds, an American software company that serves the U.S. government and thousands of American companies. The intruders used malicious code and a flaw in a Microsoft product to steal intelligence from the National Nuclear Security Administration, National Institutes of Health and the Treasury Department in what Microsoft President Brad Smith called “the largest and most sophisticated attack the world has ever seen.”

The president issued an executive order establishing the Cyber Safety Review Board in May 2021 and ordered it to start work by reviewing the SolarWinds attack.

But for reasons that experts say remain unclear, that never happened.

Nor did the board probe SolarWinds for its second report.

A full, public accounting of what happened in the Solar Winds case would have been devastating to Microsoft. ProPublica recently revealed that Microsoft had long known about — but refused to address — a flaw used in the hack. The tech company’s failure to act reflected a corporate culture that prioritized profit over security and left the U.S. government vulnerable, a whistleblower said.

  • @kevindqcEnglish
    34•5 months ago

    The president issued an executive order establishing the Cyber Safety Review Board in May 2021 and ordered it to start work by reviewing the SolarWinds attack.

    Where does it say that? I don’t see it on https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/12/executive-order-on-improving-the-nations-cybersecurity/

    Closest thing I found was

    (b) The Board shall review and assess, with respect to significant cyber incidents (as defined under Presidential Policy Directive 41 of July 26, 2016 (United States Cyber Incident Coordination) (PPD 41)) affecting FCEB Information Systems or non-Federal systems, threat activity, vulnerabilities, mitigation activities, and agency responses.

    (c) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall convene the Board following a significant cyber incident triggering the establishment of a Cyber Unified Coordination Group (UCG) as provided by section V(B)(2) of PPD-41; at any time as directed by the President acting through the APNSA; or at any time the Secretary of Homeland Security deems necessary.

    Oops it was the next paragraph I guess:

    (d) The Board’s initial review shall relate to the cyber activities that prompted the establishment of a UCG in December 2020, and the Board shall, within 90 days of the Board’s establishment, provide recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security for improving cybersecurity and incident response practices, as outlined in subsection (i) of this section.

    • @Tronn4English
      32•5 months ago

      Woah woah woah! You’re doing more research than the articles author!

    • @[email protected]English
      14•5 months ago

      If you ever want to go down a depressing rabbit hole, read about the tax-avoiding antics Microsoft pioneered between 2010 and 2020. They’re still refusing to pay a measly $29B tax bill (likely a minute percentage of what they laundered / evaded). It is a truly evil corporation.

      Edit: changed M to B. Yeah they are delinquent on $29B in taxes. Different rules and laws apply for the rich & megacorps.

      • @[email protected]English
        4•5 months ago

        Just the sheer magnitude of anything anti-competitive is enough of a rabbit-hole.

        Their products suck so much ass, I can’t comprehend how much they screw everyone over.

  • @j4k3English
    10•5 months ago

    Who’s ready to bet that these vectors were intentional and used by the US government as their own monitoring and stalkerware? Likely, investigation would result in exposure, but using such a quieted program in a sophist narrative is well within Republican nonsense. It seems that is everything posted rn.

    • @[email protected]English
      23•5 months ago

      I think it’s more likely that MS is trying to cover its ass and maintain credibility with arguably their largest customer, the US govt, and is blocking the fuck out of any inquiries

      The US needs to end its reliance on big tech and businesses in general. You’re supposed to be a governing body, not party to the countries diseased economic system run by the ultra rich.

      • @j4k3English
        9•5 months ago

        I seriously doubt the two are separate like that any more. They are likely completely intertwined at this point. There are hints all around in the technology that indicate we are completely compromised. Moves like integrated phone batteries and the MINIX ME system running under all operating systems on x86, or the proprietary modems; everything subtly points to a surveillance state. We are absolutely hell bent on proving bin Laden correct in his calculations to destroy democracy long term with a neo digital feudal dark age of regression.

        • @[email protected]English
          4•5 months ago

          Right, I wouldn’t say they’re separate by any means but I’m sure they all have their own strings and lines in the sand, wouldn’t say there’re one in the same quite yet

          Nothings ever that black and white