Short Password Reset code vulnerability allows hackers to brute-force many websites
Aug 19, 2013
Yesterday we received a vulnerability report in web applications from some unknown Indian Hacker, who explained that how Hackers are hijacking Mobile recharge and Free SMS service related websites. He detailed the loophole in password reset process, that could allow attackers to brute force many high profile websites that are actually not protected by the image CAPTCHA verification system, during the password reset process. The hacker used a Firefox Browser equipped with the Fireforce add-on , a very simple a Firefox extension designed to perform brute-force attacks on GET and POST forms. The technique proposed by him targets the unsecure password reset process used by many websites, where the web application used to send a code to the user's mobile or email for authenticity verification. Around 40% websites adopts password reset code composed of numbers and of some fixed length, typically having a length less than 5 digits. This information could advan...
