Nmap Featured in The Matrix Reloaded

rajiv was among dozens to report that unlike most "Hacks" in film, The Matrix reloaded actually has an ounce of reality where other films would rely on fancy 3D graphics. You can see more at Insecure.org where they have screenshots. It's only on screen for a split second, but Tritnity uses Nmap to find a vulnerable SSH server, and then exploits it using the SSH1 CRC32 exploit from 2001.

Comments

Uhm...

[Anonymous Coward]

In response to :-

> The Matrix reloaded actually has an ounce of
> reality where other films would rely on fancy
> 3D graphics.

So in several hundred years time people STILL won't have patched their bloody SSH holes?

Yah actually I guess that is reality ;o)

AL

Re:Uhm...

[marx]

So in several hundred years time people STILL won't have patched their bloody SSH holes?

Inside the Matrix it's present time, and the exploit was launched against a standard power plant computer, not against a Matrix computer.

So it's accurate.

And there was much rejoicing..

[Trevalyx]

When I went to the 1AM showing on release night, there were a lot of interesting people.. When it got to the hacking scene, only a few people cheered, however, they did it with enough vigor that everyone else was caught of guard.. And when I tried to explain to the guy nibbling his foot next to me, "Nmap," I just got a blank stare...

zero-day warez screenshots?

[Speare]

Where did the nmap folks get all these screenshots of a movie that's ostensibly fresh-in-theaters? And why oh why did they name their sources? I'm imagining Agent Smith from the MPAA will be giving out a few cease and desist visits soon.

Re:zero-day warez screenshots?

[ThePatrioticFuck]

If you read the article @ Insecure, the guy says when he heard it was in the movie, he asked if anybody could send him some screen captures and ended up being flooded with pics, video, etc. And mentions he found it strange that many of them showed Windows Media Player in the capture :) TPF

No IPv6 huh?

[hillct]

Severla hundred years in the future and still, IPv6 hasn't been adopted. Personally, I'm not suprised. It'll take an act of god to get it deployed.

--CTH

Re:No IPv6 huh?

[Waffle Iron]

Even if everyone on Earth were ready to migrate to IPv6, it still wouldn't happen. As we found out in Independence Day, IPv4 is an entrenched *intergalactic* standard. There are just too many star systems involved to be able to roll out this upgrade in the forseeable future.

Re:No IPv6 huh?

[markov_chain]

Recall the first Matrix, where Agent Smith rants about the humans' deficiencies, and mentions the failure of an early beta version of the Matrix. It failed because they made the simulation too good, and people were missing all the pain and suffering.

So they put IPv4 back in.

Before you say it...

[tbmaddux]

...exploits it using the SSH1 CRC32 exploit from 2001.

I'm sure there will be lots of funny jokes posted about using a 2001 exploit far into the future, patching systems, etc. etc. However, while the Matrix films are set in the future, the Matrix is set in the present, at the "peak of your civilization" according to Agent Smith. So it is appropriate for Trinity to hack a present-day system using a present-day exploit. She could even be ahead of her time, if the first movie was set in 1999 and it's only 6 months later, then the Matrix might not even have gotten through Y2K yet (did I just spoil the third movie).

Aside from the amusing idea of having someone hack a computer program using their avatar inside the computer-generated construct of the Matrix, this sameness of the Matrix over long time periods raises an unanswered question in my mind. Why don't the people notice the lack of advancement in the Matrix? Over a hundred years of 1999-ness... no stunning advances in CGI, or science, or anything!

Re:nmap is easily fooled

[antsquish]

... and after all that work making it appear as a FreeBSD box, you go and confess to all of slashdot that it's really a Win2k box...... I guess that saves everyone a bit of work? :-)

Well that's why she had to BREAK INTO the office!

[cculianu]

If you will remember the movie, that computer _was_ on a private network. She had to break into this private secure office building before she even began hacking. So she was behind the firewall already because she was physically in the building.

Theories and Spoilers

[neema]

Off-topic on the nmap discussion, but on-topic as far the Matrix goes, here is something I just thought of. It's pack full of spoilers for reloaded and speculation about revolutions, so consider that your warning.

SPOILERS AND SPECULATION FOLLOW:

Now, the theory that Zion is really a matrix within a matrix has been floating around and I happen to agree with it. The premise of the movie, I think, is that not only is Neo "The One" from the first layer of the matrix (which was exposed in the first movie), but happens also to be the small percentage that becomes "The One" in the second layer of the matrix, something the machines didn't count on.

As for him having to make a decision between saving Trinity and saving mankind, I don't think he's gotten to the choice yet and that will come in revolutions. The Architect said that the expulsion of humans from the first matrix servered a purpose for the machines, so, theoretically, perhaps Morpheus, Trinity and the rest of them are actually computer programs, to assist moving the dissident population of the first layer of the matrix to the second layer. Of course, there is a possibility they are not aware of their own existance. This would explain Morpheus' adamant belief in "The One" (it's been programmed in him). Of course, Neo's love for Trinity complicates things and I think that will be the choice in the third matrix. He will have to decide between destroying this second layer of the matrix, which would destroy Trinity the computer program too, or preserving it because of his love for her.

Feel free to point out flaws, because I'd really appreciate that.

Re:Theories and Spoilers

[Jason H. Smith]

Just got back from my third viewing tonight. It took that many times for all that architect talk to sink in. A few thoughts...

First, AFAICT, they are definitely still in the Matrix. The architect is intentionally difficult to follow, but I think his point was, the 99% acceptance rate is nice, but something must be done with those who do not accept. And the answer is simply have the Matrix make them think they busted out. Also, there's no need for any meta-Matrix, as the first Matrix could easily simulate the escape. Think chroot vs. user-mode Linux. But that's a small point.

If you watch again, you will notice the Merelvengian (sp) say that Neo's predecessors had much more respect, and also that he has survived those predecessors, and he will survive Neo. But that's all said before you know what he means. But what I got is that eventually, the shit hits the fan, and they just reboot the whole damned thing every hundred years or so (not a bad uptime).

Also, unlike you, I think he made the choice. Neo chose not to go to the source. At first, I thought this was weird, because the Neos on TV did the same. I thought this was the previous recordings (i.e. all 6 made the same choice); but after watching again, it looks like the TVs are showing now, not the past. That makes sense. This is the first time Neo made the wrong choice. I'm thinking this fits the Hollywood formula pretty well. The previous 5 Neos were simply benevolent mankind-lovers; but this time, we get the predictable theme that love conquers all or such.

I thought it was pretty cool, but the plot is treading into dangerous ground. When you start blurring reality with dreams, you're walking on cheesy, overused deus ex machina storylines. It's easy to get lame and make crap. E.g. look at how dumb Existenz ended up being. But then, I liked Total Recall, so there is hope for a great finale.

So I think there's still a lot up for grabs. Since Zion and the war are still a computer simulation, for all we know, there might not even be a war going on at all! Although there probably is, since it wouldn't be very Hollywood to just handwave away two movies worth of bad guys.

Anyway, I'm thinking now that they know they're still in the matrix, perhaps the people in Zion will start breaking the rules and have some actual means of fighting the approaching machine army? Or maybe they'll all just pop up a level, leaving the machine army there to twiddle their thumbs.

Re:Theories and Spoilers

[OmniVector]

****SPOILER ALERT****

I think the best explination i've heard, or at least the one I like the most, is someone said Neo is really just a computer program too. The purpose of Neo, and the whole reason 5 different versions of him have existed alreay, is to try and find the "perfect" AI. The Matrix is really run by humans, the the humans are trying to find a version of Neo that will truely be human enough to be considedered actual AI.

If you remember where Trinity types in her password to crack the power system, Z1ON0101, the binary 0101 translates to 5. Is Trinity aware of this being the 5th incarnation through the fact that she too is just a computer program or is this just odd coincidence?

For the people who say the 2nd was too much action, and not enough plot i think it was twice the plot and action... This second one raises a lot more mindfuck questions.

Re:Pix

[kampit]

Yeah, and if you look at the pictures closer, you notice

(The 1539 ports scanned but not shown below are in the state: closed)
/t State Service
/tcp open ssh

So she does know there's an sshd running on the system, then she throws the 'spoit and it works.. maybe you'd prefer it if there had been a 3 hour sequence where she coded up her own exploit, DDoS'd the whole matrix and pranced around in the nude saying 'marvelous!', but sometimes you just have to make sacrifices to please the general audience :)

Re:Private Network!

[feldy]

After assing the movie

The sad thing is, I have no idea what verb you were actually trying to use.