WebApp Sec mailing list archives

RE: spam technique name?

From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 13:13:55 -0400

This technique is very common and has been use since the mid-90s.
Here's a bit more information about the use of "Web bugs" in email:

http://www.privacyfoundation.org/resources/webbug.asp

Richard

-----Original Message-----
From: Calderon, Juan C (CORP, DDEMESIS)
[mailto:Juan.Calderon () ddemesis ge com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 12:06 PM
To: webappsec () securityfocus com
Subject: spam technique name?


Hello all

Recently I was thinking about a technique that could be used by
spammers, I don't know a common name or something for such a technique,
so if you know it please let me know.

PROBLEM
        How can a spammer know if the victim opened the mail?, one is
the well known "Remove Me" link which, in fact, will confirm user read
the message (and probably will be bombed with many more, now that he
said "hey!, I'm here").  However, it requires user interaction.

SOLUTION
        A simple "solution" can be to insert a Image, Link (for CSS for
example) or Script tag in the HTML mail, all those elements indicate Web
browsers to send a GET request using the SRC or HREF attribute, without
user interaction. 

Sample Code (Mail sent to ficticious peter () foomail com)
<HTML>
<BODY>
        Dear Peter<br>
        Buy our brand new product, CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP....
        <img
src='http://www.spamer.com/AutoRecordAddress.php?email=peter%40foomail%2
Ecom'><br>
        Click <a href='http://www.spamer.com/ConfirmVictim.php&apos;>Here</a>
to be removed<br>
        NOTE:the presence of this link indicates this is not spamming
even if you don't ask for this email
</BODY>
</HTML>

Viewing (or "previewing" in Outlook or similar) this email will
automatically send a request for a "image" file served by a Server-side
script, first recording the data without explicit authorization.

I've tested this (using 3 different tags) using Exchange and some others
public accounts. I have succeed in all cases.

So have you seen something similar? do you think this is a kind of XSS?
I do.

cheers :)
________________________________________
Juan C Calderon
IT Security

Current thread:

spam technique name? Calderon, Juan C (CORP, DDEMESIS) (Apr 22)
- Re: spam technique name? Bill Burge (Apr 22)
- RE: spam technique name? Richard M. Smith (Apr 22)
- Re: spam technique name? Jamie Pratt (Apr 22)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: spam technique name? tetsujin (Apr 22)