Security Basics mailing list archives

Re: Encrypted or Not Encrypted


From: "Douglas C. Duckworth" <stlpcsecurity () gmail com>
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:36:18 -0500

If you connect with SSL, you perform the handshake first. Thereafter all data is encrypted. You don't send your password first. That would make no sense since the data is viewable as plain text.
More information:

http://www.schneier.com/paper-ssl.pdf

Rob wrote:
So how are the credentials protected in network transit to the secure site? The way you explain it, I see the creds being exposed on their way to the secure site.

Optimally they should enter their creds after ssl has setup the secure session, not after..

What am I missing?

Rob

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 12, 2008, at 6:44 AM, Eifrém Strinnholm Jonas <Jonas.Eifrem () sweco se> wrote:

Encrypted.

-----Original Message-----
From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com] On
Behalf Of amatachick () gmail com
Sent: den 11 september 2008 20:25
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Encrypted or Not Encrypted

I've run into this issue a few times now and would like to know what y'all think. Here is the situation: A website not using SSL has a login page. As soon as credentials are entered on this page they are redirected to a site
using SSL. Here is a specific example of the code on one such site:

<form name="loginpersonal" method="POST"
action="https://secure.sitename.com/engine/login/login.asp"; onSubmit="return
checkLoginForm(this);">

  <input type=hidden name=IsPostback value=1>



Now, from what I understand, the login credentials would still be
unencrypted while traveling to the secure site. So that would negate the
effect of having it redirect to a secure site in the first place. Right? I keep brining up this fact but all I get back is that it's being redirected so it's secure. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here so I'd appreciate some feedback. Am I wrong? If I am I can handle that, I'd just like to know.
Thanks!



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