Diebold Source Code Leaked, Again

Cthippo · 24 Oct 2006

PC World said:

Source code to Diebold Election Systems voting machines has been leaked once again.

Last week, former Maryland state legislator Cheryl C. Kagan was anonymously given disks containing source code to Diebold's BallotStation and Global Election Management System (GEMS) tabulation software used in the 2004 elections. Kagan, a well-known critic of electronic voting, is Executive Director of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in Olney, Maryland.

The disks were created and distributed by two federal voting machine testing labs run by Ciber and Wyle Laboratories. They had been testing systems on behalf of the state of Maryland, Diebold said in a statement.
Earlier Breech

This is not the first time that Diebold source code has been leaked. In early 2003, Diebold critic Bev Harris uncovered similar source code while conducting research using Google's search engine.

Soon after, researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Rice University published a damning critique of Diebold's products, based on an analysis of the software.

They found, for example, that it would be easy to program a counterfeit voting card to work with the machines and then use it to cast multiple votes inside the voting booth.

Diebold says it has since introduced security enhancements to its products, but the fact that the company's sensitive source code has again leaked out is not a good sign, according to Avi Rubin, a computer science professor with Johns Hopkins and one of the authors of the 2003 report.

The first leak should have taught Diebold a lesson on securing its source code, he said. "You would think that given the amount of embarrassment that caused them, they would do a better job of protecting it."
Evaluating Criticism

Rubin, who was shown the latest source code by a reporter at the Washington Post, said that it appeared to be "just another version" of the code that was published in 2003.

The disks came with a letter that was highly critical of Maryland State Administrator of Elections Linda Lamone, Rubin said. "It read like it was from somebody with a very, very serious axe to grind," he said. "It was one of the more outlandish things I've read." The researcher commented further on the source code leak on his blog.

Rubin believes the disks were given to Kagan because of her past criticism of electronic voting machines. "I guess whoever did this knew she would pursue it doggedly, which she did."

Diebold said the source code was for BallotStation 4.3.15C, which is no longer being used in the U.S., and for GEMS 1.18.19, which is being used in a "limited number of jurisdictions."

The
FBI is investigating the leak, Diebold said.
Ready for Election

The leak comes with just three weeks before elections in the U.S., but Maryland Board of Elections Deputy Administrator Ross Goldstein expressed confidence in the Diebold voting machines. The leaked code was "not software that's in use in this election," he said. "The software now is different and has many more security features."

Diebold echoed Goldstein's comments. "Voters and election officials can be confident that on Election Day, votes and vote totals will be safe, secure and accurate," the company said.

Kagan, however, wasn't so sure, saying that the security of the source code raised concerns. "The idea that it could be that readily available and could be delivered to me and who-knows-who-else around the state [is disturbing]," she said. "Who know what any other people may be doing with it?"
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Gee, maybe they should just go open source

Nexxo · 24 Oct 2006

Here's my conspiracy theory: the leak was deliberate, to create plausible deniability if Diebold's machines ever get caught forging the vote-count in favour of the Republicans. "Hey, the code was leaked. Anyone could have done this..."

Monkeyboy · 24 Oct 2006

nexxo's theory is plausible. as an addendum to this conspiracy, what happens if all of a sudden these machines rack up an unbelievable amount of votes for the dems? who would catch flak? the dems and their supporters. it would be a great smear campaign: "dems rig election!" a recount would be done (perhaps with surreptitious tampering in favor of the GOP...), and lo and behold, victory for the republicans. all just conspiracy theory, but still not beyond current political machinations.

FredsFriend · 24 Oct 2006

In my opinion that company should have been restricted from providing machines as soon as the head of the company promised to win the elections for the republicans. Man that guy has to be thick.

Ramble · 24 Oct 2006

Jesus H. Christ again?

supermonkey · 24 Oct 2006

FredsFriend said:

In my opinion that company should have been restricted from providing machines as soon as the head of the company promised to win the elections for the republicans. Man that guy has to be thick.
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QFT.

If that statement wasn't enough to get people thinking about what's really going on in our government, then there really isn't any hope left.

-monkey

Cthippo · 24 Oct 2006

supermonkey said:

QFT.

If that statement wasn't enough to get people thinking about what's really going on in our government, then there really isn't any hope left.

-monkey
Click to expand...

QFT

That really says it all. The Apathy has won. Time to leave

Ramble · 24 Oct 2006

I can't be bothered to leave...

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Diebold Source Code Leaked, Again

Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag

Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

Monkeyboy Minimodder

FredsFriend What's a Dremel?

Ramble Ginger Nut

supermonkey Deal with it

Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag

Ramble Ginger Nut

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Diebold Source Code Leaked, Again

Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag

Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

Monkeyboy Minimodder

FredsFriend What's a Dremel?

Ramble Ginger Nut

supermonkey Deal with it

Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag

Ramble Ginger Nut

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