Bugtraq mailing list archives

Re: TB2 Pro sending NT passwords cleartext


From: bhusler () PACBELL NET (William J Husler)
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 17:02:16 -0800


It also, last I check, used UDP, so it is certainly not "fully compatible with
any third party LAN based encryption scheme" - can you say SSH.
Bill

David Masten wrote:

Timbuktu Pro 32 (TB2)from Netopia sends user IDs and passwords in clear
text.

When TB2 is used to remote control a machine that is not logged in or is
locked, any user ID and password that is typed in is sent in clear text. A
malicious user on the network can "sniff" the packets and gain the NT User
IDs and passwords of any one using TB2 to remotely control a NT machine.

Versions Tested:
Timbuktu Pro 32 2.0 build 650
Timbuktu Pro 32 3.0 build 30759

Vendor Status: Vendor has been notified and either does not appear willing
to correct, or does not understand the implications.

Exploit:
1. Start your favorite sniffer on the same network segment as either the
controlled machine or the controlling machine.
2. Remote control an NT machine that is either locked or not logged in.
3. Log in to that machine.
4. Stop the sniffer
5. Search the sniffer output file for TCP packets to the controlled machine
on port 1417, having a data length of 7, and containing the hex sequence 05
00 3E in the first three bytes of data. The fourth byte is the upper case of
the letter that was typed.

Workaround:
1. Do not use TB2 to control machines that are not logged in.
2. (From Netopia) "One possible solution, depending on your environment,
might include establishing a VPN. Since Timbuktu Pro is a set of services
that runs on top of the protocol layer, it is fully compatible with any
third party LAN based encryption schemes (Virtual Private Networks) or
connection protocols such as PPTP" (I do not see this as a viable solution
for their current target market, which is firms needing to centralize IT
staff while maintaining de-centralized systems.)

David Masten
DM InfoSec
dmasten () dminfosec com
440-725-1401


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