October 1, 2024 at 05:16PM
Numerous high- and critical-severity bugs were discovered in government agency software platforms, posing security risks to sensitive personal data such as Social Security numbers and voter registrations. Security researcher Jason Parker exposed vulnerabilities in 19 platforms, including an issue with Georgia’s voter cancellation portal. Outdated systems and inadequate funding contribute to the prevalence of these flaws.
Based on the meeting notes, the key takeaways are:
1. Multiple high- and critical-severity bugs have been discovered in software platforms used by government agencies across the US, including vulnerabilities in Govtech systems, which store sensitive personally identifying information (PII) such as Social Security numbers, IDs, legal and medical records, and voter registrations.
2. Security researcher Jason Parker identified issues in 19 Govtech platforms this year, including a bug in the state of Georgia’s portal for canceling voter registrations, an access control issue in Florida, and critical vulnerabilities in a public records request management platform used by various government levels.
3. One specific case study highlighted a voter registration issue in Georgia, revealing multiple vulnerabilities in the site and the discovery that anyone could submit a cancellation request using easily accessible public information. These vulnerabilities were exploited by individuals attempting to unlawfully deregister prominent political figures.
4. Other significant vulnerabilities were found in widely-used public records management systems, electronic filing systems, and court record systems across different states, emphasizing a broader pattern of security flaws in Govtech platforms.
5. The flaws in Govtech systems are attributed to outdated technology, insufficient funding for new systems and security solutions, lack of accountability from vendors, and the reliance on legacy platforms. Security researcher Parker emphasized the need for governmentwide cybersecurity programs like FedRAMP and StateRAMP to establish minimum cybersecurity requirements.
These takeaways capture the critical issues and vulnerabilities identified in Govtech systems and the pressing need for improved cybersecurity measures and modernization in government technology.