Penetration Testing mailing list archives

listening to people/offices when on-hold on the phone


From: "Robin Wood" <dninja () gmail com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:37:30 +0100

Hi
Imagine the situation, you get a message to call someone, your call
gets answered by an automated system which says there may be a few
minutes wait and gives you the bad hold music. You hit the hands free
button on the phone and get on with work while you wait for it to be
answered.

Unless you mute the call, the person/system on the other end of the
call could be listening in while pretending to be on hold and
potentially hear all that is going on around you.

It is a random attack vector but it could allow an attacker to pick up
all sorts of information. I thought about it while sitting on hold for
over 30 mins trying to get through to my mobile phone support line
last night. If they had been listening they would know what I had for
dinner.

Anyone tried listening in like this? Anyone got any comments?

Robin

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