Full Disclosure mailing list archives

Re: Re: IRCXpro 1.0 - Clear local and default remote admin passwords


From: "Michael Osten" <mosten () bleepyou com>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 11:28:32 -0500

The reason why IRC servers "IRCD.config" files don't use encryption (see
file attachment for example) is because 49 times out of 50 they do not
come
with a GUI program.  Administrators main method of changing the
configuration is to manually edit the file using a notepad utility.

It has nothing to do with having a GUI or not.  You obviously have no
concept of Unix permissions, so using a unix analogy should be avoided in
the future.  The config file that you speak of would be set to only be
readable and/or writable the user running the daemon.  Even the existance of
that password in the config file woud lend it self a bad design as every
application in (linux at least) can have hooks to PAM and use the same
encrypted password.  If the password *was* in the config file, to read this
file, you would need that users priviledges, or priviledges greater than
that user.  If you have either, crypting the password would be a bit
pointless (not to say that people don't do it).

I'm not even going to touch the "notepad utility" comment.


Overuse in the use of encrypted passwords can be counter productive to
functionality.
There are good reasons to keep passwords clear text passwords to better
interface with other software.
For example Merak Mail server software
(http://www.icewarp.com/Products/Merak_Email_Server_Software/)
When using this mail server, it can store the accounts on an SQL Server.
The passwords are stored clear text.  This enables other software to
interface with its data to create and sync its accounts/passwords with
other
systems.


No, No, No.  Bad design, stupid design.  I've never heard of your or "Merak
Mail" software, but thanks for pointing them out.  I can avoid both steaming
piles of crap.

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