Potential Payment Card Breach at ISS Highlights Vulnerabilities in POS Systems
In a significant cybersecurity incident, Information Systems & Suppliers (ISS) Inc., a vendor of point-of-sale (POS) systems utilized by restaurants across the United States, has warned its clients of a possible data breach that may have compromised payment card information. The breach concerns the LogMeIn remote-access service, which ISS employs to manage its POS systems remotely.
On June 12, the company notified its restaurant clients that between February 28 and April 18 of this year, unauthorized access to their LogMeIn account may have led to the exposure of sensitive credit card data linked to POS transactions. Thomas Potter, president of ISS, indicated that the breach occurred on multiple occasions and involved attack vectors likely stemming from social engineering techniques, such as phishing.
LogMeIn, established in 2003, provides remote access and systems management services and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Following the breach, ISS has implemented proactive measures, including changing access credentials and enhancing security protocols to prevent further incidents. While the company has not disclosed the number of impacted restaurants, it has expressed confidence that not all customers of its FuturePOS solutions were affected.
This incident underscores the growing threat landscape surrounding POS systems, which have become attractive targets for cybercriminals due to often inadequate security measures. Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities such as unsecured memory, unencrypted network transmissions, and compromised PIN pad devices. Over the past year, retail environments have faced several high-profile data breaches involving POS systems, including incidents at notable retailers which resulted in the theft of millions of credit and debit card details.
The MITRE ATT&CK framework can shed light on the tactics and techniques believed to be used in this attack. Initial access may have been gained through phishing, constituting the first step in a chain of adversarial tactics aimed at compromising the system. The persistence of the threat was evident as the unauthorized access spanned multiple attempts, highlighting a poorly defended point in the organization’s cybersecurity posture.
As the threat to POS systems increases, business owners must remain vigilant. Regular security assessments, employee training on recognizing phishing attempts, and a robust incident response plan can mitigate risks. Moreover, adhering to security best practices, such as encryption and frequent updates, is critical in safeguarding against future breaches.
The recent warning from ISS serves as a crucial reminder of the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats facing retail sectors and the importance of maintaining strong security measures around point-of-sale technologies. Businesses must prioritize enhancing their cybersecurity posture to protect both their operations and customers’ sensitive data in an increasingly digital landscape.