From: steve at netwaynetworks.com.au (Steven Evans)
Subject: Multiple Vulnerabilities found in Microsoft
	 .Net Passport Services

I am very disappointed by this posting.  Everyone knows that passport is not
secure.  Everyone knows that there are inherit problems in the software.
Issuing a advisory like this to the general public is only informing the
world that you have a Marketing Department and, perhaps, an interested in
performing an IPO.
 
Please, can you wait until microsoft fixes your 'vulnerabilities' before you
post.  
 
Also, can you please put full-disclosure in the CC or TO fields so my meger
outlook filters can filter your emails into their designated folders
properly?
 
Thanks
Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Qazi Ahmed [mailto:qa@...cert.org] 
Sent: Thursday, 8 May 2003 4:37 PM
To: pakcert@...cert.org
Subject: [Full-Disclosure] Multiple Vulnerabilities found in Microsoft .Net
Passport Services


PakCERT Security Advisory PC-080503 
http://www.pakcert.org/advisory/PC-080503.txt
<http://www.pakcert.org/advisory/PC-080503.txt>  
Multiple Vulnerabilities found in Microsoft .Net Passport Services 
May 08, 2003 

BACKGROUND 


"Microsoft(r) .NET Passport is a Web-based service designed to make signing
in to Web sites fast and easy. .NET Passport enables participating sites to
authenticate a user with a single set of sign-in credentials, eliminating
the need for users to remember numerous passwords and sign-in names." 


"Since its launch in 1999, Microsoft(r) .NET Passport has become one of the
largest online authentication systems in the world, with more than 200
million accounts performing more than 3.5 billion authentications each
month. .NET Passport participating sites include NASDAQ, McAfee,
Expedia.com, eBay, Cannon, Groove, Starbucks, MSN(r) Hotmail, MSN Messenger,
and many more." 


Benefits of Using .Net Passport Services 


* "Use one name and password to sign in to all .NET Passport-participating
sites and services." 


* "Store personal information in your .NET Passport profile and, if you
choose, automatically share that information when you sign in so that
participating sites can provide you with personalized services." 


DESCRIPTION 


PakCERT has discovered two serious vulnerabilities in Microsoft .Net
Passport Services, which if exploited, affects over 200 million users
worldwide. Using these vulnerabilities and the single sign-in feature of
Microsoft .Net Passport, an attacker can completely take control of a user's
account including Hotmail email account, personal information, credit card
numbers, shopping lists etc and use it on any of the .Net Passport
participating web sites. 


Issue One: Bypass Security Questions 


An attacker can bypass the security questions asked before resetting the
password. When Microsoft Hotmail/.Net Passport users forget their passwords,
they have to fill out a web form that requires their email address, state,
zip code and country. After submitting the correct information users are
prompted to answer the secret question they entered during their signup for
the service. 


As a result of this vulnerability, Microsoft Hotmail/.Net Passport users who
rely on questions like "What's my name?" or "What's my favorite color?"
could find themselves loosing their accounts. 


Issue Two: Password Reset Vulnerability 


An attacker can reset any Microsoft Hotmail/.Net Passport user account with
no prior information like state, zip, country, answer to the secret question
and the old password. Normally, a user has to answer the security questions
and than answer the secret question if he wants to reset his password. By
exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can submit a specially crafted
URL to get the password reset instructions and reset any user's password. 


TECHNICAL DETAILS 


Due to the nature of this vulnerability and the fact that there is no fix
available yet, no technical details are being made available with this
advisory. Full technical details will be made available on our website once
the vulnerability is fixed by Microsoft. Please note that we were forced to
release this information public as these vulnerabilities are actively being
exploited in the wild and are one of the most severe vulnerabilities ever
found in Microsoft Hotmail/.Net Passport. 


FOUND BY:  Qazi Ahmed & Shoaib Rehman 


AUTHOR:  Qazi Ahmed 


DISCLAIMER 


The information within this paper may change without notice. Use of this
information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are
NO warranties with regard to this information. In no event shall the author
be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in connection with
the use or spread of this information. Any use of this information is at the
user's own risk. 


PakCERT Contact Information: 


 Email: pakcert@...cert.org 
 Phone: +92-21-5872445 - 47 
 Fax:   +92-21- 5378505 
 Postal Address: 
 PakCERT 
 Office #5, 3rd Floor, Plot No. 6-C 
 7th Zamzama Commercial Lane 
 Phase-V, D.H.A 
 Karachi, Pakistan 


REFERENCES 


http://www.passport.com/ <http://www.passport.com/>  
http://www.hotmail.com/ <http://www.hotmail.com/>  
http://www.msn.com/ <http://www.msn.com/>  
http://www.microsoft.com/net/services/passport/
<http://www.microsoft.com/net/services/passport/>  
http://www.microsoft.com/net/services/passport/business.asp
<http://www.microsoft.com/net/services/passport/business.asp>  


Netway Networks Pty Limited
t   02 - 8920 8877 
f   02 - 8920 8866 
e   support@...waynetworks.com.au 
w   http://www.netwaynetworks.com.au 

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