“Day 15: The Phantom JS Threat — How Forgotten Code Became a Silent RCE Bomb”
1 min read
Summary
A security audit of a healthcare SaaS platform revealed a remote code execution (RCE) vector due to reanimated dormant code.
The commented-out debug function had been inactive for three years and was inadvertently activated by a framework update.
The “dead code” became a security risk for 450,000 patient records, emphasising the importance of keeping code up to date and regularly conducting security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities.
The discovery led to the vendor paying $650 for the find, highlighting the potential rewards for cybersecurity researchers identifying and helping to address such critical issues.
The report outlines the complexities of maintaining secure software environments and the potential hazards of dormant code being inadvertently activated.