Check out this KB article.  This might help you understand
the problem.

http://support.ipswitch.com/kb/IM-20000523-DM01.htm

Basically, IMail uses a session key in it's URL so the server
knows it's you when you go from page to page.  The problem is
there are a dozen ways to get this session key and "hijack" the
user's session since it doesn't change very quickly (on each
click or on a relatively short timeframe).

This session key is the Xaf34c89b9... part after the URL and port.

Thus, IPSwitch worked around the problem (instead of completely
solving it), by checking your IP address on every page click also.
This setting is the one mentioned in the KB article above.

If you check "Ignore source address in security check", then this
"fix" is no longer active and it becomes possible to hijack sessions
again.

The problem is some modem users have ..er.. "really" dynamic IP
addresses. (I don't know what the technical term for it is.)  This
means their source IP address may change relatively quickly.  If
you uncheck "Ignore source address in security check", these users
will get booted out of their IMail sessions because it "looks" like
they are hijacking the session (since their IP address is different).

So, currently, as far as I know, there is no way to keep modem users
from getting kicked and having a secure server.  But hey, even if
this was fixed, there are still plenty of other security problems
to pick on...

-Norm


-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of florida.com
Sent: Friday, June 14, 2002 8:51 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [IMail Forum] Possible security flaw


Just got this email from a guy:  ( see below)

I could not reproduce as I don't have same software on my server to
readily access my referrers.
Maybe someone can reproduce this?


------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------
>Dear Sir,

>When checking the incoming referrers from my website, I noticed that I
could get in one of your >customers e-mail box:

>http://email.florida.com:8383/Xaf34c89b9bc9cfcc98e81bcf27/button.cgi

(session expired already  dk )


Sincerely,

David Kaleky

www.Florida.com
www.AtlanticCity.com
www.Moshiach.com

Tel: 561-995-1656
FAX: 425-799-5963


PS. Great Hotel and Condo Deals *WorldWide* are found at
http://www.FLORIDA.com

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