Pwn2Own is a highly significant and influential annual hacking competition in the cybersecurity community. It serves as a platform for top researchers and hackers to demonstrate vulnerabilities in popular software and operating systems.
The event plays a crucial role in identifying and addressing security weaknesses, benefiting both the security industry and end-users. Pwn2Own’s impact extends to enhancing the overall security of technology platforms and promoting responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities.
Recently, on day one of Pwn2Own 2023 in Toronto, cybersecurity researchers successfully hacked the Samsung Galaxy S23 twice, and not only that, but they also showcased exploits for zero days on other devices as well.
Here below, we have mentioned those devices:-
- Xiaomi’s 13 Pro smartphone
- Apple iPhone 14
- Google Pixel 7
- Printers
- Smart speakers
- Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices
- Surveillance cameras from Western Digital
- QNAP
- Synology
- Canon
- Lexmark
- Sonos
- Google’s Pixel Watch
- Chromecast devices
Pwn2Own Toronto
This year, in 2023, Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) hosted the Pwn2Own Toronto hacking event.
ZDI (Zero Day Initiative) is a program run by Trend Micro that focuses on the responsible disclosure of software vulnerabilities.
It’s crucial because it provides a structured and secure platform for security researchers to report and address zero-day vulnerabilities.
Pwn2Own Toronto 2023 is a significant event for the cybersecurity community. It gives security experts a chance to showcase their expertise and discover brand-new flaws in widely used software and devices.
The occasion also contributes to increasing awareness of the significance of cybersecurity and the requirement to fix vulnerabilities promptly.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Hacked
Pentest Limited earned $50,000 and scored 5 Master of Pwn points for being the first to demonstrate a zero-day on the Samsung Galaxy S23 through improper input validation.
The STAR Labs SG team secured $25,000 and 5 Master of Pwn points for hacking a Samsung Galaxy S23 in the second round by exploiting a permissive list of allowed inputs.
While in the mobile phone category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 was targeted by the following teams:-
- Pentest Limited on Tuesday, October 24
- STAR Labs SG on Tuesday, October 24
- Interrupt Labs on Wednesday, October 25
- ToChim on Wednesday, October 25
- Team Orca of Sea Security on Thursday, October 26
Over $1 Million in Rewards
Here below, we have mentioned all the top payouts:-
- For iPhone 14 hack $300,000
- For Pixel 7 hack $250,000
- As Google/Apple bonus, $50,000 for a kernel-level exploit
In this security event, a total prize pool of over $1,000,000 in cash is available for the participants.
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