[2659] in bugtraq

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Re: Not so much a bug as a warning of new brute force attack

daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Christopher X. Candreva)
Mon Jun 3 14:05:12 1996

Date:         Mon, 3 Jun 1996 08:37:37 -0400
Reply-To: Bugtraq List <BUGTRAQ@NETSPACE.ORG>
From: "Christopher X. Candreva" <chris@westnet.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list BUGTRAQ <BUGTRAQ@NETSPACE.ORG>
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.SOL.3.93.960601104727.687A-100000@dazed.nol.net>

On Sat, 1 Jun 1996, Brett L. Hawn wrote:

> Given a file full of usernames and the standard 'dict file' one can
> currently connect to the pop3 daemon and effiecently try passwords for a
> user until the proper one is gotten or one runs out of passwords without any
> noticeable effects on the server. I've tested this method myself using

Which pop3 server are you using ?

The U of Washington POP/IMAP package has a timer in it, and disconnects
after 3 failures.

It does not, however, check for a valid log-in shell (that the user's
shell exists in /etc/shells). Since I use an invalid shell to disable
accounts, I made a small patch to enable this feature.

-Chris

==========================================================
Chris Candreva  -- chris@westnet.com -- (914) 967-7816
WestNet Internet Services of Westchester
http://www.westnet.com/

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