New SHA1 Attack Linux, UNIX Engineers Blog

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New SHA1 attack: How to protect your Linux and UNIX systems

SHA1 is a widely used cryptographic hash function that produces a 160-bit digest from any input data. It is designed to be resistant to collisions, meaning that it is hard to find two different inputs that produce the same output. However, a recent research paper by Google and CWI Amsterdam has demonstrated a practical collision attack on SHA1, which could have serious implications for the security of many Linux and UNIX systems.

The attack, dubbed SHAttered, involves generating two PDF files with different contents but the same SHA1 hash. This means that any system that relies on SHA1 to verify the integrity or authenticity of a file could be fooled by the malicious PDF. For example, if a digital signature scheme uses SHA1 to sign a document, an attacker could create a fake document with the same signature as the original one. Or if a software repository uses SHA1 to check the validity of a package, an attacker could replace it with a malicious one with the same hash.

How can you protect your Linux and UNIX systems from this new SHA1 attack Here are some recommendations:

Upgrade to a more secure hash function, such as SHA256 or SHA3, which are not affected by the collision attack. Many Linux and UNIX tools and applications already support these newer algorithms, so you should check your configuration and preferences to make sure you are using them.

Avoid using SHA1 for any sensitive or critical data, such as passwords, encryption keys, certificates, or digital signatures. If you have to use SHA1 for legacy reasons, make sure you combine it with other security measures, such as salted hashes or HMACs.

Verify the source and integrity of any files you download or receive from external sources, especially if they are in PDF format. You can use tools like sha256sum or sha3sum to compute the hash of a file and compare it with the expected value. You can also use online services like VirusTotal or SHAttered.it to check if a file has been reported as a collision.

SHA1 is no longer considered secure and should be phased out as soon as possible. By following these tips, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to the new SHA1 attack and keep your Linux and UNIX systems safe.

If you want to learn more about the new SHA1 attack and how it works, you can read the original research paper by Google and CWI Amsterdam here: https://shattered.io/static/shattered.pdf. You can also watch a video demonstration of the attack here: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=7U-RbOKanYs.

The new SHA1 attack is a milestone in the history of cryptography and shows the importance of keeping up with the latest developments and standards. As Linux and UNIX engineers, we should always strive to use the best practices and tools to ensure the security and reliability of our systems and data. aa16f39245