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Airscanner Mobile Security Advisory #05081201: PDAapps Verichat v1.30bh Local Password Disclosure



Airscanner Mobile Security Advisory #05081201:
PDAapps Verichat v1.30bh Local Password Disclosure 

Product:
PDAapps Verichat v1.30bh

Platform:
Tested on Windows Mobile Pocket PC 2003

Requirements:
Mobile device running Windows Mobile Pocket PC with Verichat v1.30bh installed

Credits:
Jonathan Read, CISSP
Airscanner Mobile Security
http://www.airscanner.com
Mobile Antivirus Researchers Association
http://www.mobileav.org

Date:
August 12 2005

Risk Level:
Medium; a local attacker can view passwords in plain text. 

Summary:
Verichat is instant messaging software that allows a user to connect to many 
different instant messaging accounts at once. It supports AOL, Yahoo!, MSN and 
ICQ on a Pocket PC device. 
http://www.pdaapps.com/verichat_ppc/index.html

Details:
Verichat instant messenger does not implement any security measures for user 
passwords. Usernames and passwords are stored in plain text in the 
device&#8217;s registry. Although Windows Mobile does not come with a native 
registry editor, third party software can be used to view these passwords with 
ease.

Passwords are stored in the following location by default:
\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PDAapps\VeriChat
Each messenger client is represented at this path. For example, if an attacker 
wanted to find the MSN password, he would simply browse to the MSN registry key 
and look at the first two values. The first value is the password and the 
second value is the username. 

Workaround:
None

Vendor Response
Waiting response.

Copyright (c) 2005 Airscanner Corp.
http://www.airscanner.com

Online Advisory
http://airscanner.com/security//05081201_verichat.htm

Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert electronically. It 
may not be edited in any way without the express written consent of Airscanner 
Corp. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this alert in any other 
medium other than electronically, please contact Airscanner Corp. for 
permission.

Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the 
time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the 
information constitutes acceptance for use on an AS IS condition. There are no 
warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the 
publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss 
or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.