August 18, 2021
A cybersecurity flaw developed by BlackBerry Ltd could put at risk cars and medical equipment that utilize it and expose highly sensitive systems to hackers according to a U.S. drugs regulator and federal agency.
The warning was issued after the Canadian technology company revealed that its QNX Real Time (QNX RTOS) Operating System has a vulnerability that could allow a hacker to execute random code or flood a server with traffic until it crashes or stops working.
The software is used by automakers such as Volkswagen, BMW and Ford Motor in key functions, including the Advanced Driver Assistance System.
The bug does not affect current or newer versions of the QNX RTOS, but versions from 2012 and earlier, BlackBerry said.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said the software is used in a wide range of products and that the bug “could result in an attacker gaining control of highly sensitive systems, increasing risk to the nation’s critical operations,” the CISA said.
Blackberry has notified potential customers affected and provided software patches to fix the issue.
For more information, read the original story in Reuters.
