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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Researchers disclosed three distinct security issues affecting EA’s Origin platform in 2019: a Windows client URL-scheme flaw, a web authentication chain with account-takeover potential, and a local privilege-escalation vulnerability. They described possible harms, not a confirmed mass compromise. The reports also document vendor responses, but do not establish the current security status of every historical Origin client or service.
What the 2019 Origin reports found
The disclosures concerned different parts of Origin and had different prerequisites. The June account-takeover report received particular attention, but it should not be conflated with the April Windows-client issue or EA’s separate December update.
| Disclosure | Affected surface and conditions | Potential impact | Response described in the sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2019, reported by TechCrunch on April 16 | Origin’s Windows client used an origin:// URL scheme to open game pages. Researchers told TechCrunch that the scheme could be abused on a Windows system with the client installed. TechCrunch reported that macOS was not affected. |
Potential application execution with the logged-in user’s privileges; the report also discussed malicious PowerShell use and access-token theft. | TechCrunch reported that EA confirmed a fix had rolled out. |
| June 2019, reported by Check Point Research and CyberInt | A web authentication chain involving an abandoned EA subdomain, OAuth single sign-on, and authentication-token handling across EA and Origin domains. | Potential account takeover and access to account-associated information, with the possibility of fraudulent in-game purchases. | The researchers said they reported the findings to EA and worked with the company on remediation. EA said it engaged its product security response process. |
| December 2019, addressed in EA’s December 10 statement | A local privilege-escalation issue under specific circumstances: a valid non-Administrator account plus installation of a specially crafted program or execution of code modifying part of the software. | A user with limited permissions could potentially gain privileged-level access. | EA said an Origin client update addressed the issue and introduced Restricted Access Mode. |
How the June account-takeover chain was described
In its June 26, 2019 technical account, Check Point Research said eaplayinvite.ea.com still pointed by CNAME to an Azure service name that was no longer in use. The researchers said they registered that service name, then combined the abandoned-subdomain condition with EA’s OAuth single sign-on and TRUST behavior across EA and Origin domains. Their report describes manipulating a return URI and redirects to capture an SSO token.
Check Point and CyberInt characterized the possible result as account takeover and identity theft without requiring a user to hand login details to the attacker. Their press release also described possible access to account-associated information and fraudulent in-game purchases. These were potential impacts of the reported chain, not evidence that those outcomes occurred at scale.
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What “more than 300 million” meant
Check Point’s June 2019 press release said more than 300 million EA gamers could have been exposed. That was the company’s estimate of potential exposure, not a count of hacked or confirmed compromised accounts. The sources reviewed do not document a confirmed mass compromise of 300 million accounts.
What EA said about fixes—and what remains unknown
For the June findings, Check Point and CyberInt said they disclosed the issues to EA and worked with the company on fixes. EA’s Adrian Stone, then Senior Director of Game and Platform Security, said in Check Point’s press release that “Protecting our players is our priority,” and that EA had engaged its product security response process. The sources do not specify every deployed patch or establish the present status of the old client versions and services involved.
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EA’s December 10, 2019 statement addressed only the separate privilege-escalation issue. EA said it saw no evidence of that vulnerability being used during its investigation and development of the update. It also estimated at the time that less than 5% of Origin users lacked Administrator-level access. Both statements refer to EA’s historical account of that December issue; they do not establish whether the April or June findings were exploited, or describe current user statistics.
Because these are historical disclosures, they are not enough to determine whether a particular installation or connected service is safe or vulnerable today. The reports describe fixes and responses at the time; they do not establish current support or vulnerability status for every Origin version.
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What players can do
Check Point and CyberInt advised players to enable two-factor authentication, use official websites when downloading or purchasing games, and be cautious with links from unknown sources. Those are general precautions recommended by the researchers; the reports do not establish that any one of them prevents the specific flaws described above.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to report an EA vulnerability today
EA’s vulnerability-reporting guidance directs people to its Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure form. EA asks reporters to provide:
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- The affected product and platform.
- The affected version, or the observation time for an online service.
- What the issue could let an attacker do.
- Relevant steps to reproduce or observe the issue.
- Supporting material, such as screenshots or sample code.
EA’s guidance says the company does not currently have a bug bounty program. That policy can change, so consult EA’s current reporting page before submitting a report.
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