Vulnerability Development mailing list archives

FW: Wlan @ bestbuy is cleartext?


From: "Duffy, Shawn" <SDuffy () NCIINC com>
Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 15:45:05 -0400

 
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Ok, I get the picture.  I have been misunderstood here.

For clarification, I am not stating that Blue Boar is the one who
should be
in trouble.  My statement of "checking into it" was intended for
everyone
reading the thread.  I think it was definitely noteworthy Blue Boar
let us
know.  But I don't know that everyone out here won't run out to the
nearest
BestBuy, Home Depot, or whatever and pull-out their trusty WLan card
and a
copy of Netstumbler looking to capture credit cards in the clear.

As far as BestBuy may already know; then yes, they are liable.  But,
who
here wants to be the one who has to go to court and explain  it? 
Again, I
am just saying before you go out to your local stores and start
gathering
credit card numbers, think about it.  

Lastly, if someone happens to live in a quite town with no "computer
crime
prevention", are you telling the readers that makes it ok?  Me
either.

Help each other out, guys (and gals).  Blue Boar did that.  I am
certainly
going to take his advice about credit card purchases and I plan on
sharing
his information with others.

Peace

sd




- -----Original Message-----
From: Vachon, Scott [mailto:Scott.Vachon () Paymentech com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 1:36 PM
To: 'vuln-dev () securityfocus com'
Subject: RE: Wlan @ bestbuy is cleartext?



Checking into it may be a legality problem.

How so ? He's not the one transmitting confidential data in the
clear...

For those of you interested in trying this one out at your local
BestBuy, 
be aware
they may already know...

And if they are still transmitting in the clear, then they are
legally
liable...

Anyway, at this point, I suggest you contact local law enforcement
and ask them what they think.  By now, I would hope most areas have
a network tasks forces that can at least address the issue either
for
you or with you when you  confront BestBuy.  Who knows, you may be a
hero and hire you as a CSO ;-)

LOL. I like the assumption about the task forces but, I fear you are
very
wrong. The bigger cities may have them but, the thousands of smaller
towns
are doubtful at best. I suspect many would not be able to cite any
infractions on the part of the tech bringing this to their attention.
I
further doubt they would have the jurisdiction to accompany said
person to
BestBuy to help unscrew them. I do suspect that one or two people
employed
by them have run this up the flagpole in the last few hours...

Also, I wouldn't doddle on this, you may prevent an identity theft!

No better reason needed. Well said.

~S~

Disclaimer: My own 2 cents....
______________________________________________________________________
______
______________
Original Post Here:
his past week I went to bestbuy to purchase a D-link wlan card...
egar to 
get my laptop up and running while in the car I put my card in and 
installed the driver. I noticed the traffic light was lit up as if I
had a 
connection. Out of curriosity I fired up kismet and sure enough there
were 
packets flying through the air right infront of BestBuy. Well I
decided to 
run in an try to make a Credit Card purchase real quick to verify
that my 
info was not going all over the parking lot in the clear. Well after 
sorting out my logs I noticed what looked to be like SQL queries and
table 
headers in my logs ... things such as CUSTOMER_ROUTEID, BANKNAME, 
REGISTER_ID and things of that nature... luckily no where in that
data did 
I find my own credit card. Non the less I decided to run to the store
next 
to BestBuy while I left me PC on grabbing packets. Well yesterday I
sorted 
through the data collected and this time I did indeed find a RAW
clear text 
credit card number....not mine ... but definately a credit card
number.

Heres my delima... I checked out a few of the other best buy stores
for 
"beacon packets" and everyone I drove by was sending them out...so I
assume 
all BestBuy's are wlan enabled. What I need to find out is ... are 
BestBuys's Cash register terminals indeed using wlan and are they
indeed 
sending out MY data in the clear... I am NOT comfortable using my
credit 
card at ANY BestBuy as of right now...  due to legality though I
don't feel 
comfortable walking into the store and confronting someone about
it.... for 
all I know it could be standard BestBuy corp. practices to use
nonsecure 
wlan. I figured by starting a thread other people that have attempted
this 
may have more info or some from BestBuy may be reading the list and
they 
may pipe up.

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