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For the third consecutive month, UK banks have suffered major disruptions, causing chaos for customers relying on payments and transfers. Despite strict regulatory frameworks, these institutions remain woefully exposed to cyber incidents, fraud, and unlawful access.
Today, one of the UK’s biggest banks was identified with basic security failings, including:
– “Not Secure” subdomains
– Insecure servers
– Critical PKI errors (impacting login and API connections)
These vulnerabilities are systemic in an industry that claims to be secure and compliant. Banks prioritize convenience over security, shifting the costs of their failures onto customers. Without urgent intervention, these weaknesses will lead to greater financial catastrophe.
You Should Know: Critical Cyber Security Practices for Banks
1. Detecting Insecure Subdomains
Use tools like:
nslookup example.com dig subdomain.example.com openssl s_client -connect subdomain.example.com:443 -servername subdomain.example.com | openssl x509 -noout -text
Check for mixed content warnings, expired certificates, or weak cipher suites.
2. Identifying PKI Errors
Verify SSL/TLS misconfigurations:
testssl.sh example.com nmap --script ssl-cert,ssl-enum-ciphers -p 443 example.com
Common PKI flaws include:
- Self-signed certificates
- SHA-1 signatures
- Weak key exchange algorithms
3. Securing Banking APIs
Test for API vulnerabilities:
curl -X GET https://api.bank.com/v1/accounts -H "Authorization: Bearer {token}"
Check for:
- Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA)
- Excessive Data Exposure
- Lack of Rate Limiting
4. Preventing DNS Exploits
Audit DNS records:
host -t mx example.com dnsenum example.com
Ensure:
- DNSSEC is enabled
- No dangling DNS records
- No subdomain takeovers
5. Detecting Server Vulnerabilities
Scan for misconfigured servers:
nikto -h example.com nmap -sV --script vuln example.com
Critical checks:
- Outdated software (e.g., Apache, Nginx)
- Open ports (e.g., 22, 21, 3389)
- Default credentials
What Undercode Say
The repeated failures of UK banks highlight a dangerous trend: compliance does not equal security. Financial institutions must adopt zero-trust architectures, enforce strict PKI management, and conduct continuous penetration testing.
Key Linux & Windows Commands for Banking Security Audits
– Linux:
ss -tuln Check open ports journalctl -u apache2 --no-pager Audit web server logs chkrootkit Detect rootkits
– Windows:
Test-NetConnection -ComputerName example.com -Port 443 Check open ports Get-ChildItem -Path Cert:\LocalMachine\My List installed certificates Get-WinEvent -LogName Security -MaxEvents 50 Review security logs
Expected Output:
A secure banking system requires:
✅ Automated vulnerability scanning
✅ Strict API security policies
✅ Real-time DNS monitoring
✅ Mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Failure to implement these measures will result in more breaches, fraud, and regulatory penalties. The time for action is now.
Expected Output: A detailed cybersecurity report with actionable steps for banking security hardening.
References:
Reported By: Andy Jenkinson – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
