Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees Except when ATM Jackpotting Attacks.
In ATM Jackpotting Attacks, the attackers usually gain access to the ATM’s software or hardware, either through physical manipulation or by exploiting vulnerabilities remotely. Once they’re in, they can send commands to the ATM to make it dispense cash, just like that.
“Money doesn’t grow on trees”. We have all heard this saying which emphasizes that money does not simply appear, that making a living requires hard work and long hours. But what if this isn’t the case? Cybercriminals are carrying out jackpotting attacks on ATMs that suggest that actually, yes, money can just appear, and, no, it does not require hard work and long hours – more like a few minutes.
ATM Jackpotting presents an irresistible opportunity for cybercriminals who seek cash. And ATM’s are essentially metal boxes storing large amounts of cash. Therefore, it is no surprise that ATMs are often subject to attacks. Obviously, an attack on an ATM can bring the perpetrator instant rewards – and in substantial amounts. With more than 3.5 million ATMs around the world, malicious actors are not short of targets. And what better way to attack an ATM than to jackpot it (ATM Security)?
How ATM Jackpotting Provides a Global Attack Surface
ATM Jackpotting is a type of logical attack that instructs the machine to dispense cash at a rapid pace. Such attacks have become more frequent. With the European Association for Secure Transactions (EAST) reporting a 269% increase in logical attacks between 2019 and 2020 (‘Black Box’ and Physical Attacks Against ATMs Surge). The worldwide presence of ATMs means jackpotting attacks are a global threat. In Europe, Diebold Nixdorf, a leading ATM manufacturer, issued an alert warning about the rising number of jackpotting attacks in 2020. Recently, two individuals were arrested for ATM jackpotting attacks in Europe which saw them steal over $273,000. The Secret Service also issued a warning regarding jackpotting attacks in the United States (Secret Service warning banks about ATM ‘jackpotting’).
An Explanation of ATM Jackpotting Attacks
ATM Jackpotting attacks occur through malware or using a black box. Both methods require physical access to the machine and the use of hardware attack tools, known as rogue devices.
ATM Malware
ATM Malware attacks are a serious cybersecurity threat. Malware is short for “malicious software,” designed to infiltrate, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems or networks. In a ATM Jackpotting attack, the attacker inserts a USB device ridden with ATM specific malware, such as CutletMaker or Ploutus D, into the ATM’s USB port. The malware instructs the machine to dispense cash which the attacker later collects. Ploutus malware, which first appeared in Mexico in 2013, has generated a loss of more than $450 million globally (Financial Services risk: Cyber security concerns grow).
Black Box Attack
The perpetrator attaches a black box (typically a Raspberry Pi device) to the ATM’s internal cash dispenser (ATM Black Box Attacks). The black box relays commands sent from the attacker to the cash dispenser, forcing it to spit out money. As in the malware based method, the malicious actor (or a trusty accomplice) swiftly comes to pick up the cash.
Research by Positive Technologies found that 69% of ATMs are vulnerable to Black Box Attacks (ATM logic attacks: scenarios, 2018).
ATM’s Lack Sufficient Physical Protection Making Hacking Appealing
Attackers need to gain physical access to the ATM when conducting a jackpotting attack. This, however, is not too much of a challenge. Because, most offsite ATMs lack sufficient physical protection. CCTV vigilance or the eyes of the public are security obstacles that can be easily bypassed.
In addition to attackers’ ability to go unnoticed, their devices, too, perform covertly. ATM jackpotting hardware attack tools operate on the physical layer, which goes uncovered by existing security solutions. The lack of physical layer visibility means that when a rogue device gets inserted into the ATM, it raises no security alarms. If there’s nothing in place to stop the bad guys and their hacking tools, ATM jackpotting attacks become pretty tempting.
Sepio Protects Your ATMs Through Layer 1 Visibility
Heavy spending on cybersecurity should bring a high return on investment. Yet cyber security gaps limit this, especially in the face of threats like malware or black box attacks used in ATM Jackpotting.
Sepio’s asset risk management (ARM) platform provides a panacea to gaps in network assets visibility. Ensuring you are getting the most out of your cybersecurity investments. Sepio enhances protection against threats like ATM Jackpotting Attacks by seamlessly integrating with existing solutions such as NAC, EPS, SIEM, and SOAR. Sepio’s deep visibility capabilities mean no device goes unmanaged. Sepio’s platform identifies, detects, and handles all IT/OT/IoT devices. Additionally, Sepio’s policy enforcement mechanism and Rogue Device Mitigation capabilities instantly block any unapproved or rogue hardware. In doing so, ultimately, Sepio enables a Zero Trust Hardware Access approach which stops ATM attacks at the first line of defense.
Sepio’s Asset Risk Management
Sepio’s patented technology ensures full control and visibility of your assets at the Physical Layer. This eliminates the need for traffic monitoring and allows you to locate and validate both known and unknown network assets. By assessing risk, you can prioritize attention to the highest-risk assets, ensuring operational continuity without being kept in the dark.
Sepio has successfully detected and blocked rogue devices at financial institutions. Give us just 24 hours to show you how we can secure your ATMs and stop you from becoming an attacker’s next slot machine.
See every known and shadow asset. Prioritize and mitigate risks.
Schedule a demo. It will help you understand how to use Sepio’s patented technology to gain control of your asset risks.
