Cybersecurity firm’s election system findings halted amid political pressure

A cybersecurity firm, Mojave Research, analyzed Dominion voting systems used in Puerto Rico's 2024 elections and discovered significant software vulnerabilities, including reused passwords, disabled firewalls, and poorly implemented cryptographic protections. Despite these findings, the firm found no evidence that the weaknesses were exploited or that votes were altered, according to a recent report by Nextgov.

Mojave Research's examination of Dominion voting systems in Puerto Rico revealed at least a dozen high- or critical-severity software vulnerabilities. The systems exhibited issues such as reused passwords, disabled firewalls, and weak cryptographic protections. Additionally, active cellular modems provided unintended access pathways to the underlying software. Despite these critical security flaws, Mojave Research found no evidence of exploitation or vote alteration.

The firm's work, initially supported by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, was abruptly halted. CEO Jason Wareham stated that pressure from White House-adjacent individuals, who sought evidence supporting claims of election manipulation, contributed to the termination of the project. Kurt Olsen, a Trump adviser, reportedly advocated for terminating the work when it did not yield the desired results. The findings suggest that similar vulnerabilities may exist in other voting systems, potentially impacting the security of upcoming elections.

Source: Nextgov