Hi, I'm Stavros Mekesis and I'm the Lead Security Engineer at interworks.cloud, entrusted with fortifying organizational defenses and shaping security strategies. In my current role, I oversee the entirety of the organization's security landscape, from application security to infrastructure security and policies. Reporting directly to the CEO, I play a pivotal role in managing goals, objectives, initiatives, and daily tasks to ensure robust security measures.
Previously, as an Application Security Engineer at interworks.cloud, I led the vulnerability research efforts, uncovering and remediating numerous zero-day vulnerabilities within the interworks.cloud platform, showcasing my commitment to proactive security measures.
Before joining interworks.cloud, I embarked on independent work as a Penetration Tester. During this time, I identified and reported critical vulnerabilities for prominent Greek organizations (e.g. CERTH/ITI) contributing to their enhanced cybersecurity posture.
Prior to my time as a Penetration Tester, I served as a Security Analyst in the Hellenic Army's Cyberdefense Department in the Pentagon. In this role, I performed penetration tests on web applications and infrastructure while also monitoring SIEM alerts to safeguard the Army’s networks.
My journey in the cybersecurity field began at SBA Research in Vienna, Austria, where I worked as a Security Researcher. Here, I conducted research on combinatorial security testing and cryptographic attacks, resulting in a published paper in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Moreover, I published two CVEs (CVE-2022-28924, CVE-2022-29603) for a critical open-source project widely used by prominent Greek universities, resulting in notable media coverage. I’m also proud to hold the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification, which further underscores my commitment to the field.
Beyond my professional endeavors, I’m passionate about anthropology and regularly engage in field research exploring human behavior, biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics - I've got stories to tell that are truly one-of-a-kind. I also enjoy sharpening my hacking skills through CTFs (e.g. HackTheBox profile) and actively hunting for zero-day vulnerabilities. Additionally, I lift weights and do cardio every day, enjoy cooking high-protein meals, and love crafting lyrical prose that blends poetic descriptions with psychological insights and rich, telling details. In 2023, I lived as a digital nomad, working while exploring different corners of Greece.
PS: It is the Faustian urge that propelled me into the digital world in the 1990s. This same urge, more than intellect alone, also made me a security hobbyist in the 2000s and a security professional in the 2010s, especially in the days before cybersecurity became a well-paid profession. The prime symbol of this Faustian urge is "pure and limitless space."