The blog post argues that speedrunners possess many of the same skills and mindsets as vulnerability researchers. They both meticulously analyze systems, searching for unusual behavior and edge cases that can be exploited for an advantage, whether that's saving milliseconds in a game or bypassing security measures. Speedrunners develop a deep understanding of a system's inner workings through experimentation and observation, often uncovering unintended functionality. This makes them naturally suited to vulnerability research, where finding and exploiting these hidden flaws is the primary goal. The author suggests that with some targeted training and a shift in focus, speedrunners could easily transition into security research, offering a fresh perspective and valuable skillset to the field.
The blog post "Speedrunners are vulnerability researchers, they just don't know it yet," by Zetier, posits a compelling analogy between the activities of video game speedrunners and those engaged in vulnerability research within software and systems. The core argument revolves around the shared skillset and mindset both groups employ. Speedrunners, in their pursuit of minimizing playtime, meticulously analyze game mechanics, searching for unintended interactions and exploitable loopholes that allow them to bypass intended gameplay sequences. This process, the author argues, mirrors the work of vulnerability researchers, who similarly scrutinize software code and system architectures to uncover weaknesses and potential points of exploitation.
The author elaborates on several key parallels. Firstly, both groups engage in deep, analytical dives into their respective targets. Speedrunners develop an intimate understanding of game logic, memory management, and even hardware quirks, while vulnerability researchers dissect code, network protocols, and system behavior. Secondly, both activities frequently involve manipulating inputs and observing the resulting outputs to identify anomalies and deviations from expected behavior. Speedrunners manipulate controller inputs, game states, and sometimes even hardware to trigger glitches and exploits, while vulnerability researchers craft specific input sequences, network packets, or data structures to probe for vulnerabilities.
The post emphasizes the creative problem-solving inherent in both domains. Speedrunners often discover novel and unexpected ways to break games, employing out-of-the-box thinking to chain together seemingly unrelated glitches into powerful sequence breaks. Similarly, vulnerability researchers must think creatively to identify and exploit vulnerabilities that may be obscured by complex code or system design.
Furthermore, both speedrunners and vulnerability researchers benefit from a collaborative community. Speedrunners share their findings, techniques, and strategies through online forums, videos, and live streams, accelerating the discovery and refinement of new exploits. Analogously, the vulnerability research community shares information through responsible disclosure platforms, conferences, and publications, contributing to a collective understanding of software security.
The author concludes by suggesting that the skills honed by speedrunners are highly transferable to the field of vulnerability research. The ability to meticulously analyze complex systems, identify and exploit unintended behavior, and think creatively to solve complex problems are valuable assets in both domains. The post implies that recognizing and fostering this connection could be beneficial to the cybersecurity industry, potentially tapping into a large pool of individuals with the aptitude and passion for uncovering and understanding vulnerabilities. The underlying message encourages individuals with a passion for speedrunning to consider applying their skills to the field of cybersecurity.
Summary of Comments ( 57 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43232880
HN commenters largely agree with the premise that speedrunners possess skills applicable to vulnerability research. Several highlighted the meticulous understanding of game mechanics and the ability to manipulate code execution paths as key overlaps. One commenter mentioned the "arbitrary code execution" goal of both speedrunners and security researchers, while another emphasized the creative problem-solving mindset required for both disciplines. A few pointed out that speedrunners already perform a form of vulnerability research when discovering glitches and exploits. Some suggested that formalizing a pathway for speedrunners to transition into security research would be beneficial. The potential for identifying vulnerabilities before game release through speedrunning techniques was also raised.
The Hacker News post titled "Speedrunners are vulnerability researchers, they just don't know it yet" sparked a lively discussion with several compelling comments.
Many commenters agreed with the premise, highlighting the similarities between speedrunning techniques and vulnerability research. One commenter pointed out that speedrunners, like security researchers, deeply understand the systems they're working with, often finding unintended behaviors and exploiting edge cases. They emphasized that both groups rely on meticulous documentation and sharing of findings within their communities.
Another commenter drew a parallel between sequence breaking in speedrunning and exploiting vulnerabilities in software. They explained how both involve understanding the underlying logic of a system to manipulate it in unexpected ways. This commenter also highlighted the iterative nature of both activities, where small optimizations accumulate to create significant overall improvements.
Some comments focused on the potential benefits of recruiting speedrunners for security research roles. One commenter suggested that speedrunners possess a natural curiosity and persistence that would be valuable in this field. They also noted that the competitive nature of speedrunning could translate well to the challenge-driven world of vulnerability research.
A few commenters offered counterpoints, acknowledging the overlap between the two fields but also highlighting key differences. They argued that while speedrunners exploit unintended behavior within the defined rules of a game, security researchers often deal with malicious actors exploiting vulnerabilities outside of any intended use case. This difference in context and motivation, they argued, necessitates a distinct skillset despite the shared analytical approach.
Another dissenting comment emphasized the difference in scope. While speedrunners focus on optimizing for speed within a known and controlled environment, security researchers often have to deal with complex and evolving systems where the full extent of vulnerabilities might be unknown.
One commenter provided a personal anecdote about a friend who transitioned from speedrunning to a career in security, further reinforcing the connection between the two fields. This story offered a practical example of how the skills honed through speedrunning can be directly applicable to security research.
Several commenters also discussed the legal and ethical implications of exploiting vulnerabilities, drawing a distinction between the acceptable practice within the controlled environment of a game versus the potential harm caused by exploiting vulnerabilities in real-world software systems.
Overall, the discussion on Hacker News affirmed the core argument that speedrunners possess skills and traits valuable to vulnerability research. While some commenters nuanced the comparison and highlighted key differences, the general consensus was that the mindset and methodologies employed by speedrunners have significant overlap with those used in security research.