If you don’t know the form yet… where have you been! you need to get out from under your rock, and get BBC iPlayer on right now!

You can watch the whole series of Nightsleeper now at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002265y/nightsleeper?seriesId=m002265x

The BBC has released a gripping new drama last week, depicting a coordinated, national cyber attack against the UK rail network. Whilst there has clearly been some consulting done on this show (the buzzword bingo is never ending, but there are clear accuracies), the consulting has lacked in some key areas and this has led to the show using wild levels of creative license.

These analyses aim to break down key themes within the show, explain in a bit more detail which are real and which are not, why thats the case, and provide some actual context for how they may play out in the event of a real attack.

With that said, you can find links to the show and previous reviews at the end of this article.

Now, lets get into it. (it is a lot shorter this episode as there was less technical involvement):

Virtual Machines

Virtual machines (VMs) are essentially a way to create multiple “minicomputers” within a single physical device. Imagine having a large house where each room is entirely self-contained, functioning as its own space, with its own set of resources like power and furniture. This is what a VM does—each one behaves like a separate computer, even though they all share the same underlying hardware. It’s the host computer, or the “house,” that divides up its resources—such as memory, processing power, and storage—so each VM can operate as if it’s independent, running different software, operating systems, or applications.

This concept is particularly important in cybersecurity. VMs provide a safe, isolated environment where cybersecurity experts can test software, analyze viruses, or run suspicious programs without worrying about damaging their main system. For example, if a security professional needs to investigate malware, they can do so inside a VM, knowing that if the malware causes damage, it will only affect that virtual machine, not the whole computer. It’s like having a quarantine zone where you can study dangerous pathogens without risking exposure to the rest of the lab.

However, VMs are also useful to hackers. Hackers can use them to test their own attacks in a controlled environment, practicing their techniques before deploying them on real targets. If they make a mistake, they can simply delete the VM and start fresh, leaving no trace of their activity. On the flip side, security teams can create decoy VMs—called honeypots—that attract attackers and allow them to study their behavior. So, in both defense and offense, VMs are a powerful tool in the digital security arsenal.

CVE’s – CVE 44228

In this episode, we see the technical director having an epiphony whilst being questioned. To validate her hunch, we see her looking up details of past compromises and vulnerabilities the NCSC has used in simulations and counter attacks previously. The TD finds an applicable vulnerability to the attack they are experiencing and finding the CVE number.

Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) are like the “bad guy list” in the world of cybersecurity. They are unique identifiers assigned to specific security weaknesses or bugs in software and systems. Each CVE entry describes a particular flaw that could be exploited by hackers to compromise a system. Think of them as detailed reports that outline what’s wrong, how serious the problem is, and how attackers could take advantage of it. They help standardize how these vulnerabilities are talked about and tracked, making it easier for security teams around the world to stay updated and take action.

CVEs usually contain information like a description of the vulnerability, the software or system affected, and a score that ranks its severity. These vulnerabilities are found in various ways—security researchers, developers, or ethical hackers may discover them through routine testing or while investigating incidents. Sometimes, hackers uncover these flaws first, and they might sell or trade the information on the dark web before anyone else knows.

For security firms, CVEs are like a playbook. They use the details to develop patches, updates, or defences that protect against potential attacks. They monitor CVE databases closely to stay ahead of emerging threats and protect their clients. Hackers, on the other hand, look at CVEs as an opportunity. They may seek out unpatched systems still vulnerable to known CVEs, hoping to exploit them before security teams can apply the fix. In the world of cybersecurity, staying informed about CVEs is a constant race between attackers trying to exploit vulnerabilities and defenders working to patch them.

Now here is a little easter egg for all those cyber geeks who watched the show and didn’t think to google whether the CVE number she found was real…. CVE44228 is very much real… you remember the Log4j vulnerabilities that the world scrambled to patch in 2021? Well apparently, the writer of this show knew about it too, as they chose the CVE for the Log4Shell vulnerability that made that exploit possible. – Log4j had nothing to do with the story line of course, but it is amusing they picked perhaps the highest profile CVE of recent times as their example.

Crypto Authentication Chips

Crypto authentication chips are specialized security devices embedded in systems to protect against unauthorized access. Think of them as ultra-secure digital locks that require a unique, impossible-to-duplicate key to unlock. These chips are designed to store cryptographic keys—essentially secret codes—that are used to verify the identity of the devices or people attempting to access a system. Without the right key, no access is granted, making these chips critical in preventing unauthorized users from breaching systems.

The chips are found in everything from smartphones to industrial equipment, and they serve to ensure secure communication between devices. For instance, when your smartphone connects to a payment system, a crypto authentication chip verifies that both the phone and the payment terminal are legitimate. It protects the transaction by ensuring the data exchanged is encrypted and only readable by the intended devices. This keeps hackers from intercepting or tampering with sensitive information, like your bank details or personal data.

But as with all security measures, crypto authentication chips are a double-edged sword. In the wrong hands, they can be used for nefarious purposes. A cybercriminal who manages to gain control of a crypto chip can use it to impersonate a legitimate user, bypassing security measures designed to keep them out. This is why protecting these chips is so important—they are incredibly effective at securing systems, but if compromised, they become tools that attackers can exploit to cause significant damage.

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Episode 1 analysis: https://pride-security.co.uk/nightsleeper-episode-1-analysing-bbcs-new-tv-show/

Episode 2 analysis: https://pride-security.co.uk/nightsleeper-episode-2-analysing-bbcs-new-tv-show/

Episode 3 analysis: https://pride-security.co.uk/nightsleeper-episode-3-analysing-bbcs-new-tv-show/

Episode 4 analysis: https://pride-security.co.uk/nightsleeper-episode-4-analysing-bbcs-new-tv-show

Watch the show here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002265y/nightsleeper?seriesId=m002265x