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Researchers found a way to hijack devices through Zoom screen sharing
Researchers disclosed Zoom vulnerabilities that could have allowed an attacker on a screen-sharing call to silently take control of another participant’s device, without requiring any action from the victim. The flaws matter because Zoom is widely trusted for work, personal calls and public events, potentially making the attack a route into corporate networks as well as individual devices.
The weaknesses were in Zoom’s real-time screen-sharing annotation protocol and affected supported Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android devices. Digital defence firm A Security said it found and developed an exploit for the bugs in early June using publicly available AI models in fewer than 20 prompts; Zoom has since issued server-side and client-side fixes.
In short
- Zoom patched flaws enabling silent device takeover during screen-sharing calls.
- The bugs affected all major Zoom-supported operating systems.
- Researchers said AI sharply reduced the effort needed to find exploits.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Security researchers properly disclosed critical vulnerabilities in Zoom's screen-sharing feature, enabling swift patches from both server and client sides before potential exploitation. This exemplifies responsible disclosure functioning correctly—flaws are identified, developers respond promptly, and millions of users are protected. The episode demonstrates that rigorous independent security research ultimately strengthens public confidence in widely-used platforms.
The case against
The ease with which researchers exploited Zoom's defences using publicly available AI tools raises serious concerns about whether companies adequately secure their platforms before global deployment to millions. Large numbers of professionals relied on Zoom for sensitive communications whilst these critical vulnerabilities persisted undetected in a core feature. The case suggests that even platforms designed for secure professional use contain dangerous flaws that determined attackers could readily discover and weaponise to breach corporate networks and compromise private devices.
Explained simply
Zoom is a video-calling service used for meetings, personal calls and public events. Its screen-sharing feature lets one participant show their screen to others, who can add marks or notes using annotation tools.
The researchers’ report concerns weaknesses in how Zoom handled those annotations across computers and mobile devices. If exploited, the flaws could have let someone on a call gain control of another participant’s device without their help, potentially exposing personal information or providing access to a work network.
A Security is the digital defence firm that reported finding the flaws. Zoom has released fixes, and the issue matters because the service is used by individuals and organisations for sensitive conversations.
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