[Full-Disclosure] Re: iDEFENSE Security Advisory 01.28.03: SSH2 Clients Insecurely Store Passwords

From: auto68182@hushmail.com
Date: 01/30/03

  • Next message: Dave Aitel: "SPIKE Proxy 1.4.7 is now available"
    To: full-disclosure@lists.netsys.com
    From: auto68182@hushmail.com
    Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 07:24:57 -0800
    

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    > II. DESCRIPTION
    >
    > AbsoluteTelnet, SecureCRT, Entunnel, SecureFx, and PuTTY do not properly
    > scrub memory allowing an attacker with access to memory or a memory dump
    > to retrieve authentication information.
    >
    > When connected via SSH2, an attacker can search memory or a memory dump
    > for logon credentials. Passwords transmitted by PuTTY can be found by
    > searching for the second occurrence of the string "password:". The user's
    > password is stored in plaintext shortly after this string. Passwords
    > transmitted by SecureCRT can be found by searching for the string
    > "ssh-connection". The logon and password is stored in plaintext on the
    > respective sides of this keyword. Passwords transmitted by AbsoluteTelnet
    > can be found by searching for the first occurrence of the string
    > "Password", that lies in a segment of read/write memory. The logon and
    > password is stored in plaintext on the respective sides of this keyword.

    Gee, that's a handy vulnerability. Guess what - if I can read an FTP
    daemon's memory I can recover usernames and passwords too, and
    encrypted password hashes. If I'm in a windows box and I can dump
    the putty process's memory I bet you I could just install a keystroke
    logger anyway.

    Did someone sell you this 'hole' iDefense ? If so I have a number
    of similar ones for sale..
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