Widespread Email Compromise at Yahoo/Xtra

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#759404 11-Feb-2013 12:09

From what I understand this isn't about passwords being compromised. Instead the XSS vulnerabilities grab a copy of the cookie Yahoo gives you when you log in (webmail, possibly other Yahoo services as well). Whoever or whatever presents Yahoo with that cookie is treated as you, until the cookie is invalidated (e.g. the time limit on the cookie expires, or you change your password).

As this has been going on with Yahoo worldwide for months, it is disappointing to see they still aren't on top of it. One XSS problem gets fixed, and the spammers find another one.

networkn

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#759406 11-Feb-2013 12:10

sleemanj:
networkn: Also each account is sending to all it's address book entries etc as well, which also couldn't happen via phishing.

While I'm not convinced that this is only the XSS phishing attack in play at all, it's not entirely correct to say that a phisher can't get your address book entries.

I believe that the webmail by Yahoo/Xtra collects address book entries automatically, but in any case, the Yahoo XSS phishing hack from last month allows the attacker access to your webmail (by stealing your cookies) including the addressbook therein.

So yes, if this were the XSS phishing attack in use, they can (and would) send to your address book.

No I was saying that the act of Phishing (in and of itself) will not give them access to your address book. That isn't to say that same phisher couldn't gain access via other methods like the XSS (not phishing)

Phishing is the act of attempting to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and sometimes, indirectly, money) by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

Tokes

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#759409 11-Feb-2013 12:21

This whole situation seems odd - one of these emails was sent from an old address of mine and I received it as my current address is in the address book (I haven't used this address for over a year - and have never used the account for anything other than sending a couple of emails).

Telecom should really take a front foot approach and contact all users to get them to change their passwords (as opposed to being reactive).

networkn

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#759412 11-Feb-2013 12:27

Tokes: This whole situation seems odd - one of these emails was sent from an old address of mine and I received it as my current address is in the address book (I haven't used this address for over a year - and have never used the account for anything other than sending a couple of emails).

Telecom should really take a front foot approach and contact all users to get them to change their passwords (as opposed to being reactive).

LOL any idea how long that would take ? They are the largest ISP in NZ!

mattwnz

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#759422 11-Feb-2013 12:32

networkn:
Tokes: This whole situation seems odd - one of these emails was sent from an old address of mine and I received it as my current address is in the address book (I haven't used this address for over a year - and have never used the account for anything other than sending a couple of emails).

Telecom should really take a front foot approach and contact all users to get them to change their passwords (as opposed to being reactive).

LOL any idea how long that would take ? They are the largest ISP in NZ!

An hour to write the email and send to their client database. They should force a password change when signing into Web mail.

networkn

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#759425 11-Feb-2013 12:35

mattwnz:
networkn:
Tokes: This whole situation seems odd - one of these emails was sent from an old address of mine and I received it as my current address is in the address book (I haven't used this address for over a year - and have never used the account for anything other than sending a couple of emails).

Telecom should really take a front foot approach and contact all users to get them to change their passwords (as opposed to being reactive).

LOL any idea how long that would take ? They are the largest ISP in NZ!

An hour to write the email and send to their client database. They should force a password change when signing into Web mail.

Ok well I assumed (silly me) that he was suggesting calling.

The requirement to change password is reasonable.

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mattwnz

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#759432 11-Feb-2013 12:36

I got another this morning so the problem is still going on. The problem is that they haven't said what has caused it, apart from saying it was fixed.

freitasm

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#759434 11-Feb-2013 12:43

mattwnz: An hour to write the email and send to their client database. They should force a password change when signing into Web mail.

And those who never access the webmail would have no idea why their POP access stopped working, and there'd be a wave of calls to the help desk.

No, there must be another way.

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#759446 11-Feb-2013 13:05

freitasm:
mattwnz: An hour to write the email and send to their client database. They should force a password change when signing into Web mail.

And those who never access the webmail would have no idea why their POP access stopped working, and there'd be a wave of calls to the help desk.

No, there must be another way.

You can force a password change in some systems by allowing people to log in using their old password, and then they are forced to change that password after they login, before they can access their email. SOme online banks do this, so people regularly change their banking password. Therefore it shouldn't affect pop access until the person has logged into webmail and changed the password.

freitasm

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#759450 11-Feb-2013 13:10

Which means people would still be vulnerable...

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#759471 11-Feb-2013 13:21

freitasm: Which means people would still be vulnerable...

Yes, but they are still vulnerable now anyway, until they change the password. This would at least make more people change their password. I would think that many people who use webmail probably have never changed their password in the past, nor the process of how to do it. A force password change on login would help, but if their is an exploit still then it probably will only be a short term help. But then again, I am not paid hundred of thousands or millions to work for telecom in this area, to work out a fix for the problem.

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drquack32

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#759477 11-Feb-2013 13:32

mattwnz:
freitasm:
mattwnz: An hour to write the email and send to their client database. They should force a password change when signing into Web mail.

And those who never access the webmail would have no idea why their POP access stopped working, and there'd be a wave of calls to the help desk.

No, there must be another way.

You can force a password change in some systems by allowing people to log in using their old password, and then they are forced to change that password after they login, before they can access their email. SOme online banks do this, so people regularly change their banking password. Therefore it shouldn't affect pop access until the person has logged into webmail and changed the password.

I can give you the example that I pretty much have not used my Xtra account in over a year. I just have it on iOS as a mail account. Tell me in your scenario above, how that gets sorted?

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andynz

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#759480 11-Feb-2013 13:36

Just rang Telecom (philippines) to close my old Xtra account. For anyone like myself who has an old account they don't use I'd recommend doing the same. I don't use it and don't appreciate my old address book being hacked at the Yahoo servers and then being accused it is my fault.

It has been such a long sad service form Telecom/Yahoo. They do seem to suite each other though.

Get yourself a domain name for $20/year and host your email where you like, Google seems to be pretty reliable.

I am so glad that my last contact with Xtra has finally gone. What a sad bunch they are. I deal with many other email and hosting provider and not one is anywhere as bad as Xtra.

Sorry for the rant but when you get lied to by Xtra, as we all have been today, it's time to remind Xtra/Telecom of what a terrible dreadful poor service they offer and how customer don't appreciate being treated like fools.

LennonNZ

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#759481 11-Feb-2013 13:37

I just heard on the radio that Xtra has said its not their or Yahoo's faults its happening and they have nothing to do with it.

(But you know the Media)

mattwnz

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#759482 11-Feb-2013 13:37

drquack32:
mattwnz:
freitasm:
mattwnz: An hour to write the email and send to their client database. They should force a password change when signing into Web mail.

And those who never access the webmail would have no idea why their POP access stopped working, and there'd be a wave of calls to the help desk.

No, there must be another way.

You can force a password change in some systems by allowing people to log in using their old password, and then they are forced to change that password after they login, before they can access their email. SOme online banks do this, so people regularly change their banking password. Therefore it shouldn't affect pop access until the person has logged into webmail and changed the password.

I can give you the example that I pretty much have not used my Xtra account in over a year. I just have it on iOS as a mail account. Tell me in your scenario above, how that gets sorted?

Telecom would email your account to tell you about the problem, and to log into webmail and change your password.
Those accounts that are inactive, and say haven't been used for 6 months, they should probably disable anyway, or automatically change the password on.

However apparently the exploit people have been talking about, is not the reason for the problem according to this story http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/8287236/Xtra-email-accounts-compromised

Quote - Telecom said neither it nor its outsourced email provider YahooXtra were responsible for a massive malware attack on Kiwi internet users that began over the weekend.

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