The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has examined smart radiator thermostats. The results show that there is considerable room for improvement in user-friendliness, product support, and the handling of security vulnerabilities.
IT security often falls by the wayside
In light of rising energy prices, many are turning to intelligent energy management systems such as smart thermostats. However, the short development cycles of these products often mean that IT security is neglected. Poorly protected devices provide a target for cybercriminals who can spy on sensitive data or use the devices for illegal purposes. Incorrect configurations can also lead to data loss – even without an external attack.
Overview of study results
The BSI examined a random sample of ten botim database smart thermostats for technical vulnerabilities and security risks. Nine out of ten devices met three-quarters of the requirements of ETSI EN 303 645. Nevertheless, vulnerabilities were discovered, such as a cross-site scripting vulnerability that could be exploited via the web browser. Furthermore, one product established unencrypted connections and transmitted data in plain text.
Apps with security vulnerabilities
Although the associated apps demonstrated a high level of compliance with the OWASP Mobile Application Security Testing Guide (MASTG), there were still problems: Confidential data was stored insecurely, and not all connections were protected against man-in-the-middle attacks. Unclear authorization concepts and inadequate security checks were also criticized.
White label products increase the attack surface
Three of the devices and apps examined were based on white-label solutions. While such products offer uniform compliance, they multiply the attack surface for vulnerabilities. Additionally, transparency about the country of manufacture is often lacking.
Instructions for use are often inadequate
Clear instructions are essential for secure use. typically the ramadan umrah packages However, there is still room for improvement here: Many instructions simply describe the installation without addressing IT security aspects. In nine out of ten cases, no instructions were provided for verifying secure configurations.
Poor product support
Only one vendor provided a guaranteed security update period. The reasons for the lack of support ranged from high costs to a lack of flexibility. list provider There were also deficiencies in the handling of security vulnerabilities: More than half of the vendors did not have a responsible disclosure policy, and some vulnerabilities were not fixed in a timely manner.
Recommendations for users
Smart thermostats should be configured sparingly with personal data. Particular caution is required during setup to avoid security gaps. It’s worth critically reviewing IT security aspects yourself, as many manufacturers still have room for improvement in this area.