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.
A Diablo IV speedrunner's world record was debunked by hackers who modified the game to replicate the supposedly impossible circumstances of the run. They discovered the runner, who claimed to have benefited from extremely rare item drops and enemy spawns, actually used a cheat to manipulate the game's random number generator, making the fortunate events occur on demand. This manipulation, confirmed by analyzing network traffic, allowed the runner to artificially inflate their luck and achieve an otherwise statistically improbable clear time. The discovery highlighted the difficulty of verifying speedruns in online games and the lengths some players will go to fabricate records.
Hacker News commenters largely praised the technical deep-dive in uncovering the fraudulent Diablo speedrun. Several expressed admiration for the hackers' dedication and the sophisticated tools they built to analyze the game's network traffic and memory. Some questioned the runner's explanation of "lag" and found the evidence presented compelling. A few commenters debated the ethics of reverse-engineering games for this purpose, while others discussed the broader implications for speedrunning verification and the pressure to achieve seemingly impossible records. The general sentiment was one of fascination with the detective work involved and disappointment in the runner's actions.
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.