audit of the charlie ticketing system
TRANSCRIPT
Audit of the Charlie Ticketing SystemFor the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Team China AuditingLuke, Dylan, Scott, and Craig.
The Incident• Three MIT students explored the obvious weaknesses at the
MBTA.• The MBTA’s fare-collection system named the Charlie Card
was “hacked” to show false values.• The entire MBTA facility was shown to be lacking security in
general.
What Happened?• The students got into the building through unlocked doors.• Many locks were unlocked on rooms, phone boxes, and
networking systems. • They also found a key and other physical identification that
should not have been laying around.• They also eventually hacked the Charlie card’s mag-stripe
value and then explored the RFID cards.• They documented their entire experience with photos and
assembled a slideshow. Link Here
Recommendations
• Risk Assessment (Internal & Third-party)• Improve Physical Security– Access Control Hardware & Software– Visitor Management System
Risk Assessment
• Regularly scheduled (Internal & Third-party)• Management, Security and end-user involvement• Reports to identify risk areas and levels• CounterMeasures® – Risk Analysis Software $14,500
(CounterMeasures®, n.d.)• RFP’s to be reviewed for vendor selection
Physical Security
• Access Control Hardware & Software– Increase security by eliminating keys– Provide management, audit tracking and incident response– Typical installations $1500 - $2500 per door (Access
control, n.d.)– RFP’s to be reviewed for vendor selection
Physical Security
• Visitor Management System – Lobby Track™– Increased control and security of visitors in MBTA
facilities– Security desk, on-line or self-registration kiosk
check-in available• $1800 per location (Edition Comparison, n.d.)
Questions?
Thank You
Luke, Dylan, Scott, and Craig.Team China Auditing
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Globe:http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/08/12/mit_students_report_makes_security_recommendations_to_t/
B., B. (2008). CRACKING THE CHARLIE CARD. CSO Magazine, 7(8), 17. Retrieved from Risk Management Reference Center database.
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CounterMeasures®Enterprise Platform 8.1. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2010, from CounterMeasures Risk Analysis Software: http://www.countermeasures.com/enterprise_platform_product.htm
Edition Comparison. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2010, from Jolly Lobby Track: http://www.jollytech.com/products/lobby_track/systems/edition_comparison.php
Lewis, D. (2008, 8 20). MIT CharlieCard Hackers Gag Free. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from LiquidMatrix Security
Digest:http://www.liquidmatrix.org/blog/2008/08/20/mit-charliecard-hackers-gag-free/
McGraw-Herdeg, M. (2008, August 14). Public Documents Seem to Show Free T Fare. Retrieved March 10, 2010, from The Tech, Online
Edition:http://tech.mit.edu/V128/N30/subwayvulnerabilities.html
References Cntd.McNamara, P. (2008, 8 11). Exclusive: 'MBTA vs. MIT' lawsuit really about Charlie, not CharlieCard. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from Network
World:http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/30940
Mills, E. (2008, Decemer 23). MIT students to help Boston secure subway fare system. Retrieved March 10, 2010, from CNET
News:http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10128632-83.html?tag=mncol;title
National Archives Offers Reward of Up to $50,000 for Return of a Missing Clinton Administration Hard Drive. (2009, May 29). Retrieved March 10, 2010, from The National
Archives:http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2009/nr09-89.html
Pesaturo. (2007, 3 05). MBTA Transit Police Charge Retiree with Theft. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from
MBTA:http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/news_events/?id=11063&month=&year=
Russell, R., Zack, A., & Alessandro, C. (2008, August 8). Anaomy of a Subway Hack. Retrieved March 10, 2010,
from http://tech.mit.edu/V128/N30/subway/Defcon_Presentation.pdf
Szaniszlo, M. (2008, August 10). MIT students barred from exposing MBTA security flaws. Retrieved March 10, 2010, from Boston Herald: http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1112081&srvc=home&position=emailed
Szaniszlo, M. (2008, 8 14). Board member demands MBTA audit. Retrieved April 6, 2010,
from http://www.bostonherald.com: http://www.eff.org/files/filenode/MBTA_v_Anderson/Exhibit%207.pdf
Szaniszlo, M. (2008, 8 15). MIT students must turn in CharlieCard data today. Retrieved April 6, 2010, from Boston
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Vijayan, J. (2008). Flap Over Transit Flaws Exposes Disclosure Divide. (Cover story). Computerworld, 42(33), 10. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.