Gmail accounts 'wide open to exploit' - report

The Register (U.K.) ^ | October 29, 2004 | John Leyden

[Stoat]

Gmail accounts 'wide open to exploit' - report

By John Leyden

Published Friday 29th October 2004 16:50 GMT

Google's high profile webmail service, Gmail, is vulnerable to a security exploit that might allow hackers full access to a user's email account simply by knowing the user name, according to reports.

The security flaw allows full access to users' accounts, with no need of a password, Israeli news site Nana says . Using a hex-encoded XSS link, the victim's cookie file can be stolen by a hacker, who can later use it to identify himself to Gmail as the original owner of an email account, regardless of whether or not the password is subsequently changed. Following up a tip from an Israeli hacker, journos from the site confirmed the attack and verified the exploit with local security firm Aladdin Knowledge Systems.

It's unclear whether the hole has been maliciously exploited. Google has been notified of the issue and is reportedly working on a fix. No-one from the company was available to update The Register on the issue at time of going to press. ®

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Nana - net

 

NetLife Exclusive: Security hole found in Gmail

An Israeli hacker reveals: A security hole in Gmail allows the compromise of users' email boxes – without the need of a password

מאת: Nitzan Weidenfeld, Nana NetLife Magazine

23:23 27/10/2004

 

 

So you’ve got a Gmail mail account? Or maybe you’ve just received an invitation? Well, we have some bad news for you: Your mail box is exposed. A major security hole in Google's mail service, allows full access to user accounts, without the need of a password.

"Everything could get publicly exposed – your received mails might be readable, as well as all of your sent mail, and furthermore – anyone could send and receive mail under your name", thus reveals Nir Goldshlagger, an Israeli hacker, on an exclusive interview with Nana NetLife Magazine. "Even more alarming", he explains, "is the fact that the hack itself is quite simple. All that is needed of the malicious hacker, beside knowledge of the specific technique, is quite basic computer knowledge, the victim's username – and that’s it, he's inside".

When approached, Google admitted to the security flaw. Google also assured us that this matter is being resolved, and that "the company will go to any length to protect its users".

The flaw which was discovered by Goldshlagger and was tested many times by Nana's editorial board had shown an alarming success rate. In order not to further jeopardize mail boxes' owners, we will only disclose that the process is based upon a security breach in the service's identity authentication. It allows the hacker to "snatch" the victims cookie file (a file planted in the victim's computer used to identify him) using a seemingly innocent link (which directs to Gmail's site itself). Once stolen, this cookie file allows the hacker to identify himself as the victim, without the need of a password. Even if the victim does change his password afterwards, it will be to no avail. "The system authenticates the hacker as the victim, using the stolen cookie file. Thus no password is involved in the authentication process. The victim can change his password as many times as he pleases, and it still won't stop the hacker from using his box", explains Goldshlagger.

Whether hackers have already used this method to compromise users' accounts is unclear at the moment.

 

 

Matters are several times worse when it comes to a service such as Gmail. Besides the obvious blow to Google's seemingly spotless image, we're looking here at a major threat to anyone who has turned to Gmail as his major email box. "Because Gmail offers a gigabyte of storage, several times bigger than most other web based mail services, users hardly delete any old correspondence", says Goldshlagger. "The result is a huge amount of mail accumulating in the users' boxes, which frequently include bank notices, passwords, private documents and other files the user wanted to backup. Who ever takes a hold of this data, could literally take over the victim's life and identity".

Ofer Elzam, a security expert for "Aladdin", who examined the security hole at Nana's Netlife request, explains: "This is a major threat, for the following reasons: First – the users have no way of protecting themselves. Second – it's quite easy to carry out, and third – it allows identity theft, which is nothing less than a serious danger to the victim".

"On the bright side", he adds, "its a good thing that this hole was found now, before the service was officially announced and offered to millions of users world-wide. I reckon it's just a matter of time before an automatic tool is made, which would allow even the less computer-savvy people to exploit this hack. The damage, needless to say, could be huge"

Is there a way, after all, to protect ourselves in the face of this danger? Elzam does not bear good news on the matter. "The only immediate solution that comes to mind is not using Gmail to store any messages or files that might be maliciously used. At least until Google attends to this problem"