ASUS security advisory

Number: AV19-057
Date: 27 March 2019

ASUS has released security updates to its proprietary Live Update tool. This tool is installed on ASUS notebooks to facilitate the download of the latest ASUS firmware and drivers. It was recently disclosed that malicious actors were able to compromise CompromiseThe intentional or unintentional disclosure of information, which adversely impacts its confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Live Update servers and plant malicious code masquerading as valid updates, which in turn propagated to ASUS notebooks connecting to these servers. Fixes for the Live Update tool include more stringent security measures with regard to vetting the integrity IntegrityThe ability to protect information from being modified or deleted unintentionally or when it’s not supposed to be. Integrity helps determine that information is what it claims to be. Integrity also applies to business processes, software application logic, hardware, and personnel. of the updates, enhanced encryption EncryptionConverting information from one form to another to hide its content and prevent unauthorized access. between the Live Update servers and the client notebooks, and the bolstering of the Live Update software infrastructure as a whole.

CCCS encourages users and administrators to review the ASUS webpage and apply the necessary updates:

https://www.asus.com/News/hqfgVUyZ6uyAyJe1

Note to Readers

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security Cyber securityThe protection of digital information, as well as the integrity of the infrastructure housing and transmitting digital information. More specifically, cyber security includes the body of technologies, processes, practices and response and mitigation measures designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access so as to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability. (Cyber Centre) operates as part of the Communications Security Establishment. We are Canada’s national authority on cyber security and we lead the government’s response to cyber security events. As Canada's national computer security incident response team, the Cyber Centre works in close collaboration with government departments, critical infrastructure Critical infrastructureProcesses, systems, facilities, technologies, networks, assets, and services essential to the health, safety, security, or economic well-being of Canadians and the effective functioning of government. Critical infrastructure can be stand-alone or interconnected and interdependent within and across provinces, territories, and national borders. Disruptions of critical infrastructure could result in catastrophic loss of life, adverse economic effects, and significant harm to public confidence. , Canadian businesses and international partners to prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and recover from cyber events. We do this by providing authoritative advice and support, and coordinating information sharing and incident response. The Cyber Centre is outward-facing, welcoming partnerships that help build a stronger, more resilient cyber space in Canada.