Security vulnerabilities

Attached to Project: Security vulnerabilities
Opened by heller452 - 22.09.2024
Last edited by cbay - 23.09.2024

Bug Bounty Report

Title: MTA-STS Record Not Found for Domain

Severity: High

Summary: The domain alwaysdata.com does not have an MTA-STS (Mail Transfer Agent Strict Transport Security) record configured. MTA-STS is a critical security mechanism that enforces secure connections between mail servers, preventing Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks and enhancing email security. The absence of this record leaves the domain vulnerable to potential interception and tampering of email communications, posing a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information.

Description: Upon conducting a security assessment, it was observed that the domain alwaysdata.com lacks an MTA-STS record in its DNS configuration. MTA-STS is a crucial security protocol that ensures secure communication channels between mail servers, thereby mitigating the risk of interception and tampering of email traffic.

In the absence of an MTA-STS record, malicious actors could exploit vulnerabilities in email transmission, potentially intercepting sensitive information exchanged between servers. This vulnerability exposes the domain to various security threats, including but not limited to Man-in-the-Middle attacks, eavesdropping, and unauthorized access to confidential data.

Steps to Reproduce:

Go to the MTA-STS TXT record checker tool https://easydmarc.com/tools/mta-sts-check?domain= Observe the absence of an MTA-STS TXT record.
Verify that the domain's DNS configuration does not include any MTA-STS policies.
Impact: The absence of an MTA-STS record for the domain alwaysdata.com has the following impacts:

Security Risk: Without MTA-STS, email communications are vulnerable to interception and tampering by malicious entities, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information.
MitM Attacks: Attackers could exploit the lack of secure communication channels to intercept emails, leading to potential data breaches and unauthorized access to confidential data.
Compliance Concerns: Non-compliance with industry standards and best practices regarding email security, potentially leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage.
Recommendations:

Implement MTA-STS: Configure an MTA-STS policy for the domain alwaysdata.com following the specifications outlined in RFC 8461 to enforce secure communication between mail servers.
Enable TLS Encryption: Ensure that TLS encryption is enabled and properly configured on mail servers to further enhance email security.
Regular Monitoring: Conduct regular audits and monitoring of DNS configurations to identify and address any security vulnerabilities promptly.
Educate Users: Raise awareness among domain administrators and users about the importance of email security practices, including the significance of implementing MTA-STS.
Proof of Concept (PoC): The absence of an MTA-STS record for the domain alwaysdata.com can be verified by performing a DNS lookup for the MTA-STS policy. The lack of an MTA-STS TXT record in the DNS configuration confirms the vulnerability.

Additional Notes: It is imperative to prioritize the implementation of MTA-STS for the domain alwaysdata.com to mitigate the identified security risk effectively. Failure to address this issue promptly could result in severe consequences, including data breaches and compliance violations.

Thank you ,

Sanjith Roshan U

Security Researcher

POC DRIVE LINK:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mERA_7qmeQ8bRAYuUZFRsuYJqAmm3CgO/view?usp=sharing