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HTTPS Cookie Hijacking Not Just For Gmail

Posted by timothy on from the cookie-monster-demands-satisfaction dept.

mikepery writes with a followup to last month's mention of a security vulnerability affecting Gmail accounts, which it seems understated the problem. "I figure the Slashdot readership is the best place to reach a large number of slacking admins and developers, so I want to announce that it's been 30 days since my DEFCON presentation on HTTPS cookie hijacking, and as such, it's now time to release the tool to a much wider group. Despite what was initially reported, neither the attack nor the tool are gmail-specific, and many other websites are vulnerable. So, if you maintain any sort of reasonable looking website secured by any SSL certificate (Sorry Rupert, you lose on both counts), even if it is just self-signed, you can contact me and I will provide you with a copy of the tool. Be sure to put 'CookieMonster' in the subject, without a space." (More below.) "I'd also like to encourage security professionals and consultants to request a copy of the tool for use in encouraging their clients to adopt SSL properly for their websites. There's no possible way for me to reach every site, but if convincing demonstrations can be given of the vulnerability on an individual basis, perhaps that will drive the issue home much more than the press alone has done. Heck, the tool might even land you a few new clients."

5 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. WTF?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you are going to release a tool, just fucking do it. Give is a link and be done with it.

  2. Re:Easy to find out... by blueg3 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think the explanation is quite simple. "We don't know what we're doing."

  3. Re:yeah... by Hyppy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    He is. Rebroadcasting a satellite feed is simple.

  4. Re:yeah... by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 2, Insightful

    CNN, FoxNews, and a few other broadcast channels are re-broadcast on SIPR because that's where Intel gets their Intel.

    Walk into any US Intel / Base Ops / Command Post in the world, and you'll find CNN on a big flat-screen up on the wall.

    --
    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  5. Re:new security vulnerability by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    This is what throw-away email addresses are for... just create one for this specific thing, post it, reply to people, then delete the email after 3 days. What's so hard about that? Or if he's going to obfuscate it, at least make it so actual humans can figure it out without guessing.