Major ICQ security hole (1998)

(opennet.ru)

38 points | by sysoleg 2 days ago

7 comments

  • compass_copium 1 hour ago
    >When a password of 9 or more characters is sent, their buffer is over-run, and it allows you to log in.

    Man, computers used to be fun

    • mingus88 1 hour ago
      It really was a fun time. I remember sitting in a coffee shop just sniffing WiFi traffic.

      A friend was a reporter for the local paper and interviewed the mayor. I turned my laptop around and showed my friend the mayors imap password. Just right there floating through the air.

    • nubinetwork 1 hour ago
      Unix crypt only accepted 8 characters and ignored the rest. If your password was 123456789, it was considered the same as 12345678a.
      • a_bonobo 13 minutes ago
        For local LAN play, Half-Life checked the CD key only for length I believe? It would happily accept 1234-56789-0123
    • saadn92 1 hour ago
      Yep, now everything is done through agents unfortunately.
  • waltbosz 33 minutes ago
    AOL Instant Messenger had several remote code execution exploits. They worked just by sending an IM to someone. You could also crash their computer remotely, or maybe it would just create their client.

    Also their stored password encryption algorithm was easily reversible.

    • jonhohle 15 minutes ago
      Wasn’t that how audio avatars worked (not by crashing, but ACr)? What a time to be alive.
    • camcil 22 minutes ago
      The AIM days are one for the books. What a time to be alive and interested in computerin'
  • SillyUsername 2 days ago
    So this is how my low numbered account was stolen back in the day - thanks for sharing.
    • orbital-decay 39 minutes ago
      My UIN was merely 7-digit and when it got hacked the guy just logged in, chatted with my friends about random things, and left. I only found out because they were puzzled by "me" talking weird.
    • rashkov 1 hour ago
      Can’t believe I still remember my ICQ id
      • giantrobot 14 minutes ago
        Mine is seared into my brain. It's also cheating a bit because it's only six digits.
      • gersonazgo 1 hour ago
        I read your comment and realized I also do haha lol lfmao rofl
    • aussieguy1234 58 minutes ago
      If it happened to me, my next move would be to steal it back
  • taspeotis 1 hour ago
    Rewrite it in Rust
    • Teknomadix 15 minutes ago
      Ask an agent to rewrite it in Rust. #ftfy
  • mannycalavera42 1 hour ago
    Tooooooooooooooooooooooooot! (startup jingle, good mems)
  • chuckhend 1 hour ago
    Uh oh!
    • pavel_lishin 12 minutes ago
      There are some point of sales systems that use the same sound effect, and every time it's like I'm teleported back to the 90s, sitting in my room with a pepsi, browsing the web and chattin' with friends.
    • tehlike 28 minutes ago
      Incoming file transfer
      • stavros 13 minutes ago
        Oh god this instantly took me back to my the way teenage years' room felt and smelled.