An article review.

Attackers could have used the exploits to compromise users’ password vaults and execute code on affected machines

Last week security researchers independently reported two major flaws in LastPass, a popular password management application with users numbering in the millions. While one exploit had been patched for over a year before being disclosed, it could have allowed for remote code execution on victims’ machines. The other exploit involved a malicious site that could remotely perform actions on a LastPass user’s vault, including deleting items.

While it is believed that both exploits were addressed before users were impacted it draws attention to the risks presented by the use of password management applications, which are relied upon by many to help keep track of login credentials and present a centralized point of failure for attackers.

The experts in the article did not go so far as suggesting people stop using managers such as LastPass, but did suggest they not use the auto-fill feature used to automatically enter website credentials as that was the vector for one of the exploits discovered by researchers.

Original article by Bradley Barth of SC Magazine.