Multiple Vulnerabilities found in Microsoft .Net Passport Services

From: Qazi Ahmed (qa_at_PAKCERT.ORG)
Date: 05/08/03

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    Date:         Thu, 8 May 2003 07:19:44 +0500
    To: NTBUGTRAQ@LISTSERV.NTBUGTRAQ.COM
    
    

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

    BACKGROUND

    “Microsoft® .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® .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® 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@pakcert.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.hotmail.com/
    http://www.msn.com/
    http://www.microsoft.com/net/services/passport/
    http://www.microsoft.com/net/services/passport/business.asp

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