Security Basics mailing list archives
RE: Verifying E-Mail Addresses
From: "Isaac Van Name" <ivanname () southerlandsleep com>
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:27:21 -0600
To TP: Original> How do they get access to their email if they don't already have the Original> password? a chicken and egg scenario. Not really... He was speaking of sending the password for the login page to the person's provided email... I'd expect the person to know the password of their own email. To MD: (snip) Original> >>>We simple Original> >>>don't have the resources to send out e-mails and then have Original> >>>verification and so forth. But you have the resources to find the mail server for an email address, connect to it, and run the VRFY command, catch the response, allow or deny them based on that response... automated... every time someone tries to connect to your WAP? It just seems easier to do the email with the password... It seems that a lot of companies use this method, and I'm sure there's solid reasoning behind it. I know it's relatively simple to do in PHP, if that's your cup of tea. Anyways, if you can't count on the VRFY command working on some mail servers, then sending an email is the only "foolproof" way you have available to you. I have no other thoughts on this, as the email solution seems the best, and I'm sure someone will close this thread soon, anyways. Isaac Van Name Systems Administrator "What good would you do with an ignorant employee? Ignorance is grounds for dismissal..." - Mario Spinthiras Open Source developing at its finest: "Written in vim, W3C valid and UTF-8 encoded, for her pleasure." Disclaimer: This email is intended only to be used to feign intellectual mastery of a subject or superhuman command of the English language, when profanity is involved. By reading this email, you are agreeing to cease all correspondence with the sender upon realizing your own ignorance, and furthermore to refrain from taking legal action against said sender when your compounding ignorance crushes your inadequate self-esteem. Have a nice day. Original> -----Original Message----- Original> From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com] Original> On Behalf Of tommie Original> Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 2:40 PM Original> Cc: security-basics () securityfocus com Original> Subject: Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Original> Original> How do they get access to their email if they don't already have the Original> password? a chicken and egg scenario. Original> Original> Is this a public wi-fi network or private? If it is private, setup a Original> login/passwd system for users prior to them connecting. If it's public Original> (like anon FTP), you are going to get dude () dude com all day. Original> Original> TP Original> Original> Will Yonker wrote: Original> Original> ><quote who="Jason Muskat, GCFA, GCUX, de VE3TSJ"> Original> > Original> > Original> >>Hello, Original> >> Original> >>The security issue would be if one could verify 3rd party email Original> addresses. Original> >>An organization being lazy and cheap wanting not to verify users before Original> >>granting them access is questionable organization decision, not a Original> security Original> >>issue. Original> >> Original> >> Original> >>>From: Mister Dookie <misterdookie () gmail com> Original> >>>Is there a way to verify that an e-mail address Original> >>>(e.g."johnsmith () company com") is valid and exists or does not exist Original> >>>(is a fake e-mail address) without actually sending a message to that Original> >>>address and awaiting the response? Original> >>> Original> >>>Here's why this is a security issue. Our company administers a small Original> >>>"municipal-type" 802.11 network where for limited open-access the Original> only Original> >>>form of ID we require is an e-mail address and a password. We simple Original> >>>don't have the resources to send out e-mails and then have Original> >>>verification and so forth. We are trying to prevent users from Original> >>>entering fake addresses into our system. We want at least a small Original> >>>amount of accountability. Original> >>> Original> >>>We would like to be able to do a quick check, say query an IMAP, POP3, Original> >>>or SMTP and check to see if there is actually an account at that Original> >>>address without sending a verification e-mail and waiting for users to Original> >>>click on a link or get something that bounces back. Does something Original> >>>like that exist? Original> >>> Original> >>>I do recognize that somebody can enter a valid e-mail address that Original> >>>does not belong to them, but we are trying to address one issue at a Original> >>>time. At this point we are just trying to prevent people who give us Original> >>>"dude () dude com" from getting on to our network. Original> >>> Original> >>> Original> > Original> >I agree, you really should require a working email address that they have Original> >access to. I would say your best bet would be to use the same sort of Original> >verification that most email lists use. You could easily automate the Original> >whole thing. It could go something like this: Original> > Original> >The user turns on his PC and you assign him all the right DHCP info. Original> >He then opens his browser and is directed to your login page. Original> >He then has to enter his email address if he needs to create an account. Original> >Then you send him an email with the password. Original> >Once he enters the password, he is granted access to the proxy (which Original> >connects to the internet). Original> > Original> >All quite simple to setup I think. I haven't tried to automatically Original> >create squid accounts but I'm guessing that would be trivial. You could Original> >rip the code from majordomo if there isn't already a package out there to Original> >do just this. Original> > Original> >The advantage here is, you can do all kinds of access control in the Original> >proxy. You could even add something like dansguardian for content Original> >filtering. Original> > Original> >Anyway, enough of my rambling. Original> > Original> > Original> > Original> > Original> > Original> > Original> Original> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original> This list is sponsored by: Norwich University Original> Original> EARN A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION ASSURANCE - ONLINE Original> The NSA has designated Norwich University a center of Academic Original> Excellence Original> in Information Security. Our program offers unparalleled Infosec Original> management Original> education and the case study affords you unmatched consulting Original> experience. Original> Using interactive e-Learning technology, you can earn this esteemed Original> degree, Original> without disrupting your career or home life. Original> Original> http://www.msia.norwich.edu/secfocus Original> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This list is sponsored by: Norwich University EARN A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION ASSURANCE - ONLINE The NSA has designated Norwich University a center of Academic Excellence in Information Security. Our program offers unparalleled Infosec management education and the case study affords you unmatched consulting experience. Using interactive e-Learning technology, you can earn this esteemed degree, without disrupting your career or home life. http://www.msia.norwich.edu/secfocus ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current thread:
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Jason Muskat, GCFA, GCUX, de VE3TSJ (Nov 03)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Will Yonker (Nov 14)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses tommie (Nov 15)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses AragonX (Nov 15)
- RE: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Isaac Van Name (Nov 15)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Jeffrey F. Bloss (Nov 16)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses tommie (Nov 15)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Jeffrey F. Bloss (Nov 15)
- RE: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Isaac Van Name (Nov 16)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Jeffrey F. Bloss (Nov 17)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Will Yonker (Nov 14)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Andrew Wheeler (Nov 16)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Jeffrey F. Bloss (Nov 17)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Jeffrey F. Bloss (Nov 17)
- Re: Verifying E-Mail Addresses Hylton Conacher(ZR1HPC) (Nov 20)