Vulnerabilities in Hotel RFID Locks Expose Global Security Risks

In an unsettling revelation for the hospitality industry, cybersecurity researchers have unmasked vulnerabilities in electronic RFID locks used in hotels, with the potential for clandestine room access. The hazardous flaws, collectively dubbed Unsaflok, resonate through over three million hotel doors across the globe. This discovery jolts visitor confidence and necessitates rapid, rigorous security responses.

Lennert Wouters, Ian Carroll, and their peers scrutinized the Saflok system’s integrity, designed by Zurich-based Dormakaba. Their sobering findings highlight the ease with which threat actors could theoretically replicate keycards and breach guest rooms unnoticed. Hotels using the compromised Saflok models, including the MT, Quantum, RT, and others, stand at the frontline facing this predicament.

The ingenuity of the hack lies in its straightforward execution. One simply reads a keycard—active or expired—and fabricates a counterfeit pair to access any room. Tools like the Proxmark3 or an NFC-capable phone suffice for this malignant task. Especially concerning is the potential longevity of this loophole; some locks date back to 1988.

Yet, not all hope is lost. Dormakaba, now aware of the gaps, initiated a remedial program in November 2023. Although only 36% of locks have seen upgrades to date, the momentum is building. Moreover, vigilant hotel staff can audit access logs for irregular activities, a lean measure against an invisible digital threat.

But the issue surges beyond hospitality confines. Electronic logging devices (ELDs), legally mandated in U.S. commercial trucks, teem with their own vulnerabilities. From Colorado State University, Jake Jepson and teammates unearthed ELD weaknesses. Their research, an NDSS symposium runner-up, warns of potential control over vehicle systems and data manipulation via malicious firmware. They even raise the specter of a truck-to-truck worm, an alarming escalation in cyber threats to our transportation arteries.

Each incidence of cyber frailty, either within peaceful hotel hallways or along bustling highways, underscores a universal call to arms. Entities responsible for safeguarding personal domains, be they in transit or repose, must prioritize cybersecurity with urgency. As the WIRED reportage attests and the FMCSA’s ELD mandate requires, the imperative of staying ahead of cyber malevolence is a pursuit that sleeps for no one. Whether it’s updating a room lock or securing a fleet, the digital locks shielding our safety demand the most discerning of keys – ceaseless vigilance and incontrovertible security expertise.