#Fact Check – Analysis of Viral Claims Regarding India's UNSC Permanent Membership

Introduction

Iran stands as a nation poised at the threshold of a transformative era. The Islamic Republic, a land of ancient civilisations now grappling with the exigencies of the 21st century, is now making strides in the emerging field of artificial intelligence (AI). This is not merely an adoption of new tools; it is a strategic embrace, a calculated leap into the digital unknown, where the potential for economic growth and security enhancement resonates with the promise of a redefined future.

Embarking on this technological odyssey, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in a conclave with the nation’s virtual business activists, delineated the ‘big steps’ being undertaken in the realm of AI. The gathering, as reported by the pro-government Tasnim News, was not a simple exchange of polite remarks but a profound discourse that offered an incisive overview of the burgeoning digital economy and the strides Iran is making in the AI landscape. The conversation deeply revolved around the current ecosystem of technology and innovation within Iran, delving into the burgeoning startup culture and the commendable drive within its youth populace to propel the nation to the forefront of technology.

Iranian AI Integration

Military Implications

The discourse ranged from the current technological infrastructure to the broader implications for the security and defense of the region. The Iranian polity, with its rich history that seamlessly blends with aspirations for the future, is acutely aware that the implications of AI reach far beyond mere economic growth. They extend into the very fibres of military might and the structure of national security. The investment in cyber capabilities in Iran is well-documented, a display of shrewdness and pragmatism. And the integration of AI technologies is the next logical step in an ever-evolving defense architecture. Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard, Commander of the Iranian Army Air Defense Force, has underscored the pivotal role of AI in modern warfare. He identifies the ongoing adoption of AI technologies as a strategic imperative, a top priority fundamentally designed to elevate the air defense capabilities in Iran to meet 21st-century threats.

Economic Implications

Yet, the Iranian pursuit of AI is not solely confined to bolstering military prowess. It is also pervasive in nurturing economic opportunity. President Raisi’s rhetoric touches upon economic rejuvenation, job creation, and the proliferation of financial and legal support mechanisms, all blurred into a cohesive vision that would foster a suitable environment for the private sector in the AI domain. The ambition is grand and strikingly clear — a nation committed to training several thousand individuals in the digital economy sector, signaling a deep-rooted commitment to cultivating a healthy environment  for AI-driven innovation.

The Iranian leader’s vision extends beyond the simple creation of infrastructure. It extends to the fostering of a healthy, competitive, and peaceful social milieu where domestic and international markets are within easy reach, promoting the prosperity of the digital economy and its activists. Such a vision of technological symbiosis, in many Western democracies, would be labelled as audaciously progressive. In Iran, however, withdrawing a major chunk of economic investments from the country's security state adds layers of complexity and nuance to this transformative narrative.

Cultural Integration

Still, Iran’s ambitious AI journey unfolds with a recognition of its cultural underpinnings and societal structure. The Nexus between the private sector, with its cyber-technocratic visionaries, and the regime, with its omnipresent ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is a tightrope that requires unparalleled poise and vigilance.

Moreover, in the holy city of Qom, a hub of intellectual fervour and the domicile of half of Iran's 200,000 Shia clerics, there burgeons a captivating interest in the possible synergies between AI and theological study. The clerical establishment, hidden within a stronghold of religious scholarship, perceives AI not as a problem but as a potential solution, a harbinger of progress that could ally with tradition. It sees in AI the potential of parsing Islamic texts with newfound precision, thereby allowing religious rulings, or fatwas, to resonate with the everchanging   Iranian society. This integration of technology is a testament to the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity.

Yet the integration of AI into the venerable traditions of societies such as Iran's is threaded with challenges. Herein lays the paradox, for as AI is poised to potentially bolster religious study, the threat of cultural dissolution remains present. AI, if not judiciously designed with local values and ethics in mind, could inadvertently propagate an ideology at odds with local customs, beliefs, and the cornerstone principles of a society.

Natural Resources

Similarly, Iran's strategic foray into AI extends into its sovereign dominion—the charge of its natural resources. As Mehr News Agency reports, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is on the cusp of pioneering a joint venture with international tech juggernauts, chiefly Chinese companies, to inject the lifeblood of AI into the heart of its oil and gas production processes. This grand undertaking is nothing short of a digital renaissance aimed at achieving 'great reforms’ and driving a drastic 20% improvement in efficiency. AI’s algorithmic potency, unleashed in the hydrocarbon fields, promises to streamline expenses, enhance efficacy, and maximise production outputs, thereby bolstering Iran's economic bulwark.

The AI way Forward

As we delve further into Iran's sophisticated AI strategy, we observe an approach that is both vibrant and multi-dimensional. From military development to religious tutelage, from the diligent charge of the environment to the pursuit of sustainable economic development, Iran's AI ventures are emblematic of the broader global discourse. They mark a vivid intersection of AI governance, security, and the future of technological enterprise, highlighting the evolution of technological adoption and its societal, ethical, and geopolitical repercussions.

Conclusion

The multifaceted nature of Iran's AI pursuits encapsulates a spectrum of strategic imperatives, bringing the spearheads of defense modernisation and religious academics with the imperatives of resource allocation. It reflects a nuanced approach to the adoption and integration of technology, adjudicating between the venerable pillars of traditional values and the inexorable forces of modernisation. As Iran continues to delineate and traverse its path through the burgeoning landscape of AI, attending global stakeholders, watch with renewed interest and measured apprehension. Mindful of the intricate geopolitical implications and the transformative potential inherent in Iran's burgeoning AI endeavours, the global community watches, waits, and wonders at what may emerge from this ancient civilisation’s bold, resolute strides into the future.

References

- https://www.fdd.org/analysis/op_eds/2024/03/17/irans-president-wants-new-focus-on-artificial-intelligence/

- https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-792391

- https://www.ft.com/content/9c1c3fd3-4aea-40ab-977b-24fe5527300c

- https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-looks-ai-weather-western-sanctions-help-military-fight-cheap

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Executive Summary:

Recently PAN-OS software of Palo Alto Networks was discovered with the critical vulnerability CVE-2024-3400. It is the software used to power all their networks in the next generation firewalls. This  vulnerability is a common injection vulnerability which provides access to unauthenticated attackers to execute random code having root privileges on the attacked system. This  has been exploited actively by threat actors,  leaving many organizations at risk for severe cyberattacks. This report helps to understand the exploitation, detection, mitigations and recommendations for this vulnerability.

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Understanding The CVE-2024-3400 Vulnerability:

CVE-2024-3400 impacts the particular version of PAN-OS and a certain configuration susceptible to this kind of a security issue. It is a command injection, which exists in the GlobalProtect module of the PAN-OS software. The vulnerability can be exploited by an unauthorized user to run any code on the firewall having root privileges.  This targets Active Directory database (ntds.dit), important data (DPAPI), and Windows event logs (Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-LocalSessionManager%4Operational.evtx) and also login data, cookies, and local state data for Chrome and Microsoft Edge from specific targets leading attackers to capture the browser master key and steal sensitive information of the organization.

The CVE-2024-3400 has been provided with a critical severity rating of 10.0. The following two weaknesses make this CVE  highly severe:

1. CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') 
2. CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.

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Impacted Products:

The affected version of PAN-OS by CVE-2024-3400 are-

Only the versions 10.2, 11.0, and 11.1, setup with GlobalProtect Gateway or GlobalProtect Portal are exploited by this vulnerability. Whereas the Cloud NGFW, Panorama appliances and Prisma Access are not affected.

Detecting Potential Exploitation: 

Palo Alto Networks has confirmed that they are aware of the exploitation of this particular vulnerability by threat actors. In a recent publication they have given acknowledgement to Volexity for identifying the vulnerability.  There is an increasing number of organizations that face severe and immediate risk by this exploitation. Third parties also have released the proof of concept for the vulnerability.

The suggestions were provided by Palo Alto Networks to detect this critical vulnerability. To detect this vulnerability, the following command shall be run on the command-line interface of PAN-OS device: 

grep pattern "failed to unmarshal session(.\+.\/" mp-log gpsvc.log*

This command looks through device logs for specific entries related to vulnerability. 

These log entries should contain a long, random-looking code called a GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) between the words "session(" and ")". If an attacker has tried to exploit the vulnerability, this section might contain a file path or malicious code instead of a GUID.

Presence of such entries in your logs, could be a sign of a potential attack to hack  your device which may look like:

• failed to unmarshal session(../../some/path)

A normal, harmless log entry would look like this:

• failed to unmarshal session(01234567-89ab-cdef-1234-567890abcdef)

Further investigations and actions shall be needed to secure the system in case the GUID entries were not found and suspicious.

Mitigation and Recommendations:

Mitigation of the risks posed by the critical CVE-2024-3400 vulnerability, can be accomplished by the following recommended steps:

• Immediately update Software:   This vulnerability is fixed in software releases namely PAN-OS 10.2.9-h1, PAN-OS 11.0.4-h1, PAN-OS 11.1.2-h3, and all higher versions. Updating software to these versions will protect your systems fully against potential exploitation.
• Leverage Hotfixes: Palo Alto Networks has released hotfixes for commonly deployed maintenance releases of PAN-OS 10.2, 11.0, and 11.1 for the users who cannot upgrade to the latest versions immediately. These hotfixes do provide a temporary solution while you prepare for the full upgrade.
• Enable Threat Prevention:  Incase of available Threat Prevention subscription, enable Threat IDs 95187, 95189, and 95191 to block attacks targeting the CVE-2024-3400 vulnerability. These Threat IDs are available in Applications and Threats content version 8836-8695 and later.
• Apply Vulnerability Protection: Ensure that vulnerability protection has been applied in the GlobalProtect interface to prevent the exploitation on the device. It can be implemented using these instructions. 
• Monitor Advisory Updates: Regularly checking for  the updates to the official advisory of Palo Alto Networks. This helps to stay up to date of the new releases of the guidance and threat prevention IDs of CVE-2024-3400.
• Disable Device Telemetry – Optional:  It is suggested to disable the device telemetry as an additional  precautionary measure.
• Remediation: If there is an active exploitation observed, follow the steps mentioned in this Knowledge Base article by Palo Alto Networks. 

Implementation of the above mitigation measures and recommendations would be in a position to greatly reduce the risk of exploitation you might face from a cyber attack targeting the CVE-2024-3400 vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks' PAN-OS software.

Conclusion: 

The immediate response should be taken against the offensive use of the critical CVE-2024-3400 vulnerability found in the PAN-OS platform of Palo Alto Networks.  Organizations should actively respond by implementing the suggested mitigation measures such as upgrading to the patched versions, enabling threat prevention and applying vulnerability protection to immediately protect from this vulnerability. Regular monitoring, implementing security defense mechanisms and security audits are the necessary measures that help to combat emerging threats and save critical resources.

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Introduction

In the multifaceted world of international trade and finance, cross-border transactions constitute the heart of economic relationships that span the globe. The threads that intertwine forming the fabric of global commerce are ceaselessly dynamic and exhibit an intricate pattern of complexity especially when it comes to the regulated movement of capital. It's a domain where economies connect, where businesses engage in sublime commerce, and where technology and regulation intersect at critical juncture. These guidelines will play a critical role in the regulation of capital, fortification of financial integrity, and transparency of regulatory and cross-border payments. The key highlights of this regulation include strict pre-authorization for non-bank entities, mandating specific accounts for import and export PA-CBs and a transaction ceiling of 25,00,000 Rupees.

The Vigilance of RBI 

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), ever vigilant in its shepherding role over the nation's financial stability and integrity, has taken decisive strides to dispel the haze that once clouded this critical sector. With the issuance of a revelatory circular dated October 31, 2023, the RBI has unveiled a groundbreaking framework that redefines the terrain for these pivotal financial entities, aptly christened as Payment Aggregators – Cross Border (PA-CB). In deploying this comprehensive array of regulations, the RBI demonstrates a robust commitment to harmonizing and synchronizing the oversight of payments within the country's financial fabric, extending its meticulous regulatory weave from domestic Payment Aggregators (PAs) to the PA-CBs, a sector previously undistinguished in formal oversight.

The prescriptive measures announced by the RBI are nothing short of a regulatory beacon that cuts through the fog of uncertainty, illuminating a clear path forward for entities dedicated to facilitating cross-border payment transactions pertaining to the import and export of permissible goods and services in India through online modes. Inclusiveness is a hallmark of the RBI’s directive, encompassing a diverse cadre of financial actors, ranging from Authorized Dealer (AD) banks and conventional Payment Aggregators (PAs), to the emergent breed of PA-CBs actively engaged in processing these critical international payment transactions.

Key Aspects of Regulation

One of the most striking aspects of this new regulatory regime is the RBI's insistence on pre-authorization. All non-bank entities providing PA-CB services are impelled to apply to the apex bank for authorisation by April 30, 2024. This is far from a perfunctory gesture; it represents a profound departure from the bygone era when these entities functioned under a patchwork of provisional guidelines and ad-hoc circulars. Indeed, with this resolute move, the RBI signals its intention to embrace these entities within its direct regulatory gambit, an acknowledgement of the shifting tides and progressive intricacies characteristic of cross-border payments.

The tapestry of new rules is complex, setting forth an array of prerequisites for entities aspiring for authorization. For instance, non-bank PA-CBs are obliged to register with the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) as a preliminary step before commencing the application process. Moreover, the financial benchmarks set are notably rigorous. Non-banks must boast a minimum net worth of ₹15 crores at the time of the application—a figure that escalates to a robust ₹25 crores by the fiscal deadline of March 31, 2026.

Way Forward

As if these requirements weren't indicative enough of the RBI’s penchant for detail and precision, the guidelines become yet more granular when addressing specific types of PA-CBs. Import-only PA-CBs are mandatorily obliged to maintain an Import Collection Account (ICA) with an AD Category-I scheduled commercial bank, while export-only PA-CBs are instructed to maintain an Export Collection Account (ECA), which can be maintained in Indian Rupees (INR) or any permissible foreign currency. The nuance here is palpable; payments for import transactions must be received in a meticulously managed escrow account of the PA, prior to being funneled into the ICA for smooth settlement with overseas merchants.

Conversely, export-only PA-CBs' proceeds from international sales must be swiftly credited to the relevant currency ECA. This meticulous accounting ensures that the flow of funds is both transparent and traceable, adhering to the utmost standards of financial probity.

Yet, perhaps the most emphatic of the RBI's pronouncements is the establishment of a transaction ceiling. PA-CBs have their per-transaction limit capped at ₹25,00,000 for each unit of goods or services exchanged. This calculated move is transparent in its objective to mitigate risk—a crucial aspect when one considers the potential implications of these transactions on the country’s fiscal health and the integrity of its financial systems.

It is no exaggeration to declare that with these guidelines, the RBI is effectuating a seismic shift in the regulation of cross-border payment transactions. There's a fundamental transformation taking place—a metamorphosis—from a loosely defined existence of PA-CBs to one of distinct clarity, under the direct and unswerving supervisory gaze of the regulator. The compliance burden, indeed, has become heavier, yet the return is a compass that points decisively towards secure harbours.

As we embark upon the fresh horizons that these rules bring into view, it is imperative to acknowledge that the RBI's regulatory innovations represent far more than a mere codification of dos and don'ts. They embody a visionary stride towards safeguarding and fortifying the architecture of international payments, a critical component of India's burgeoning presence on the world economic stage.

Conclusion 

The journey ahead, as we navigate these newly charted waters with the RBI's guidelines as our steadfast North Star, will no doubt be replete with challenges, adaptations and learning curves for the array of operational entities. But it is with confidence we can say, the path is set; the map is clear. The complex labyrinth of cross-border financial transactions is now demystified, and the RBI's clarion call beckons us towards a future marked by regulation, security, and above all else, reliability in the cosmopolitan tapestry of global trade. RBI’s guidelines provide a comprehensive framework for standardizing cross-border financial transactions in India. This decision is a monumental step towards maintaining cyber peace in cyberspace. 

References:

• https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12561&Mode=0
• https://www2.deloitte.com/in/en/pages/tax/articles/tax-alert-Regulation-of-payment-aggregator-cross-border-pa-cb.html
• https://www.jsalaw.com/newsletters-and-updates/rbis-new-guidelines-to-govern-payment-aggregators-in-cross-border-transactions/ 

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