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Sephora Offers Monitoring Services in Wake of Data Breach
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tdsan
tdsan,
User Rank: Ninja
7/31/2019 | 8:53:37 AM
Re: Sephora, we have a problem
Thank you for the commentary, I am glad that individuals are reading the comments as well as the article (that is good for the group).

And yes, the system is an overseas system but even with that said, they still have the same problems as those of us in the US (ask Capital One, ex. employee). But there really needs to be an oversight group that constantly monitors the systems on a monthly basis (dependent on the level of priority and risk).

 
"The security incident was limited to a database serving our Southeast Asia, Hong Kong SAR and Australia/New Zealand customers who used our online services," Sephora stated, adding that it was safe for customers to continue using its website and mobile app. Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/sephora-data-breach-singapore-malaysia-indonesia-thailand-nz-11763006"

Interesting, databases replicate with one another so if someone from Thailand flies to Malaysia or Singapore, then they should be able to access their data from anywhere. This is referred to as Transactional or Mirrored replication (dependent upon the distance the data replicates from an to, ACID based transactions but it also depends on the type of DB as well).  

So this tells me, the hacker did not have enough time to do research, the data is segmented based on zones (n + 1) or the information they gave is incorrect and/or the actor was able to move horizontally to extract information using known tools in their arsenal without being detected.

The red-team from China could have done this because of their attention to detail (they clean up everything) or APT teams from Russia could have done this as well (I am not leaving out North Korea because this is practiced on a regular). 

It sounds to me that this was an inside job but the case is still under investigation.

T

 
Dr.T
Dr.T,
User Rank: Ninja
7/30/2019 | 9:37:35 PM
Re: Sephora, we have a problem
“If the database operated independently, then how did the actors obtain the usernames, first & last name, encrypted passwords among other things.” I assume there are ways to navigate between systems and links obviously
Dr.T
Dr.T,
User Rank: Ninja
7/30/2019 | 9:36:10 PM
Re: Sephora, we have a problem
“identifying a breach is not indicative of when it actually took place” Agree on this. More work is needed to identify what really happened.
Dr.T
Dr.T,
User Rank: Ninja
7/30/2019 | 9:34:25 PM
Sephora
I really have not heard this company, it may be outside of US.
tdsan
tdsan,
User Rank: Ninja
7/29/2019 | 7:33:47 PM
Sephora, we have a problem

The company also said it detected the data breach "over the last two weeks" and immediately appointed independent experts to investigate. Affected customers were notified as soon as the details of the incident had been verified. 
  • Wait, they investigated the breach "over the last two weeks", and they notified the experts immediately (so when did the breach actually occur because identifying a breach is not indicative of when it actually took place)?. This could have happened days, months or years before. so the statement leaves room for interpretation.  

A spokesperson from Brunswick Group, a strategy advisory firm working with Sephora Southeast Asia, told CNA that the company's regional databases operate independently.
  • If the database operated independently, then how did the actors obtain the usernames, first & last name, encrypted passwords among other things. In most databases, there is a foreign key that connects the primary table with other tables or to external tables (that is if it is a relational DB).  So if they were able to access this first database containing the table, then they would have had access to the other data or at least parts of it.

Sephora customers who are not from the involved markets are "not affected in any way by this incident", the spokesperson said.
  • I think the first question I would ask is "who is from the involved markets"?

The external independent experts engaged by Sephora also concluded that there was "no major vulnerability" found on Sephora's Southeast Asia websites and also did not find any traces of a cyberattack.
  • Isn't that a marketing ploy to try and save face so to minimize the damage that has already occurred, because if the breach was minimal, then why did they bring a cyber-group who are experts in the field to the scene?. Almost like bringing big guns to look at a small problem. 

"We can also confirm no credit card information was accessed and have no evidence that any personal data has been misused," the spokesperson added. 
  • Hmm, in most breaches, the hacker looks for a buyer on the black market, it takes time for them to find someone who can use this person's data, so even though it did not take place now, it will in time. 

This is an interesting story, sounds like certain things are not adding up but that is usually part of the marketing team trying to save face to reduce the already tainted and damaged reputation of the company.

Todd


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