The Pwn2Own hacking competition began on March 15, and security researchers have already successfully exploited Ubuntu Linux, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari and Adobe Reader. In total, Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative (ZDI), which operates the contest, has awarded researchers $233,000 for their efforts.
While Pwn2Own has always taken aim at web browsers, the 2017 event is the first that provided Linux, and specifically the Ubuntu 16.10 Linux distribution, as a target. Researchers did not shy away from Linux’s first time at Pwn2Own, taking direct aim at the open-source operating system.
For its efforts, the Chaitin Security Research Lab was awarded a $15,000 prize. Abdul Hariri, senior vulnerability researcher with ZDI, confirmed to eWEEK that the flaw found was in the Linux 4.8 kernel used by the Ubuntu 16.10 distribution that was hacked on stage at Pwn2Own.
In addition to the Ubuntu Linux attack target, the Pwn2Own 2017 event also listed Apache Web Server running on Ubuntu 16.10 Linux as a potential target, with a prize of $200,000 for a successful exploit.
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