[Martin Visser <martinvisser99@xxxxxxxxx>]

Right at the start of this thread you talked about "DNS Authentication". Is this to do with what you see? DNS doesn't normally have any authentication requirement.

If you are seeing DNS packets that contains something that looks like a username or password, I suspect you have a very clever little trojan installed that is sending some nice data off to the bad guys almost covertly via DNS.

 
Regards, Martin

MartinVisser99@xxxxxxxxx

On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 8:29 AM, M K <gedropi@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Closer to #2.  The etherXXXX file is only created when I start a WS
capture.  It is apparent to me now that this tmp file is pretty
identical to the capture inside WS.  OK.  But, I guess this exercise
still brings home the problem of who is (off and on) pulling my
password information, from where and where is it going?  I know this
isn't a WS problem.  WS was only doing its job.

About the transfer of authentication data, why isn't it encrypted?
What can I do to make this happen?

It doesn't do a lick of good to harden your computer if your
authentication data is all over the place in clear text.

Thanks

On 3/24/10, Gianluca Varenni <gianluca.varenni@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Now I'm a bit confused (I'm probably missing something here). In your
> original email you said
>
>>>>>>>>>>>> The second issue, however, is still a big concern.  The
>>>>>>>>>>>> etherXXXXa
>>>>>>>>>>>> file always contains the complete (passwords included)
>>>>>>>>>>>> authentication
>>>>>>>>>>>> data plus more.  Again, this unsaved (by me) login information
>>>>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>>>>> sent over the wire in the past (PPP PAP), yet it is being saved
>>>>>>>>>>>> (by
>>>>>>>>>>>> ?)
>>>>>>>>>>>> and put into this file in the present. How can I prevent this
>>>>>>>>>>>> login
>>>>>>>>>>>> info from being saved?  How can I encrypt this login info? This
>>>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>>>> security risk.
>
> I don't understand if
>
> 1. the file etherXXXX "magically" appears even when you do not start
> wireshark and you do not start a capture
>
> or
>
> 2. you do open wireshark and start a capture (in this case wireshark does
> create an etherXXXX file), and you see packets containing your username and
> password (and other sensitive data) that were exchanged with your ISP/proxy
> *well before* you started to capture with wireshark.
>
> Which one is the right one?
>
> GV
>
>
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "M K" <gedropi@xxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 1:48 PM
> To: "Community support list for Wireshark" <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Wireshark-users] from the past
>
>> The etherXXXX file is only a tmp file written in hex.  I believe that
>> it would be impossible to open within WS because the only time the
>> ethernet file exists is when you are already in the middle of a
>> capture.  And it vanishes when you stop the capture or shut down WS, I
>> believe.  Opening another file while performing a capture is not
>> enabled.  Unless if you had multiple instances of WS perhaps.
>>
>> On 3/24/10, Gianluca Varenni <gianluca.varenni@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> From: "M K" <gedropi@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 1:29 PM
>>> To: "Community support list for Wireshark"
>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Subject: Re: [Wireshark-users] from the past
>>>
>>>> The WS  capture file does have time stamps.  The etherXXXXa file lives
>>>> at:  \Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp within
>>>> Windows.  This tmp file does not appear to have obvious timestamps.
>>>> Machine name, Administrator User name, packet source/dest and at
>>>> times, also the passwords to Windows and ISP.
>>>
>>> Wait... is this a pcap file or not? Can you open it with wireshark?
>>>
>>> Have a nice day
>>> GV
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 3/24/10, Gianluca Varenni <gianluca.varenni@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>> From: "M K" <gedropi@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 12:45 PM
>>>>> To: "Community support list for Wireshark"
>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Wireshark-users] from the past
>>>>>
>>>>>> Sorry.  I got called away.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The etherXXXX tmp file doesn't appear to have timestamps.  But within
>>>>>
>>>>> If it's a valid capture file, the packets must have a timestamp, if you
>>>>> open
>>>>> the file with wireshark.
>>>>>
>>>>> GV
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> WS, the LLC (Layer 2) & PPP LCP protocols are the first protocols to
>>>>>> show up in the trace at the time the login info is captured inside the
>>>>>> tmp file.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I suspect that this info is being passed to the tmp file.  Possible
>>>>>> suspects: the OS or networking appliances.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yes, the interface is:  Adapter for generic dialup and VPN
>>>>>>
>>>>>> And thanks for this feedback and help.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 3/24/10, Gianluca Varenni <gianluca.varenni@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>>> You didn't answer my questions:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 1. what is the timestamp of those packets?
>>>>>>> 2. what interface are you capturing from?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Are capturing from what is called "Adapter for generic dialup and VPN
>>>>>>> capture"?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Have a nice day
>>>>>>> GV
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>> From: "M K" <gedropi@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 9:25 AM
>>>>>>> To: "Community support list for Wireshark"
>>>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Wireshark-users] from the past
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> That is exactly what I am doing.  I log onto my Windows machine,
>>>>>>>> then
>>>>>>>> my ISP, then my proxy.  Then maybe go to a few websites, for
>>>>>>>> example.
>>>>>>>> Then maybe after a half hour, I may then start up a WS capture.
>>>>>>>> Still, even after all that time between logons and actually starting
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> capture, the etherXXXXa tmp file still contains this private info.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> According to Jeff, the etherXXXXa file only captures what is not
>>>>>>>> encrypted.  That makes this even more scary.  That means that not
>>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>>> is the info being captured but it isn't even being protected by even
>>>>>>>> low-grade encryption.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 3/24/10, Gianluca Varenni <gianluca.varenni@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>>>> From: "M K" <gedropi@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 9:11 AM
>>>>>>>>> To: "Community support list for Wireshark"
>>>>>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Wireshark-users] from the past
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> That is the question.  I am saying that some program (?) is
>>>>>>>>>> capturing
>>>>>>>>>> my unsaved login info.  Then at a later point, when I start a WS
>>>>>>>>>> capture, that login info from the past is put into that
>>>>>>>>>> EtherxXXXXa
>>>>>>>>>> tmp file.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> What happens if you log into your ISP and proxy, wait let's say 5
>>>>>>>>> minutes
>>>>>>>>> and then start wireshark? Do those packets still show up? what is
>>>>>>>>> their
>>>>>>>>> tiemstamp?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> GV
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On 3/24/10, Gianluca Varenni <gianluca.varenni@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> Are you saying that when you start Wireshark, wireshark itself
>>>>>>>>>>> starts
>>>>>>>>>>> capturing, *before* you click the start capture button on it?
>>>>>>>>>>> Which adapter is wireshark capturing from?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Have a nice day
>>>>>>>>>>> GV
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>>>>>> From: "M K" <gedropi@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 8:12 AM
>>>>>>>>>>> To: <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: [Wireshark-users] from the past
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Jeff Morriss suggested that I pose this question to you folks.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Here is what I wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> First:
>>>>>>>>>>>> I first log onto Windows machine
>>>>>>>>>>>> I log onto my Isp
>>>>>>>>>>>> I log into my proxy
>>>>>>>>>>>> Maybe do a few things online (eg. go to a few websites)
>>>>>>>>>>>> Then log into Wireshark
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Next:
>>>>>>>>>>>> When launching WS, immediately the capture starts a DNS
>>>>>>>>>>>> authentication
>>>>>>>>>>>> trace
>>>>>>>>>>>> and an etherXXXXa* file with Windows & ISP usernames AND
>>>>>>>>>>>> passwords
>>>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>>>>> created.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Since I expect WS to be literal, I would expect that those
>>>>>>>>>>>> actions
>>>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>>>> had
>>>>>>>>>>>> taken place in the past (logons & DNS authentication) would not
>>>>>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>>>>>> captured
>>>>>>>>>>>> since WS had not been started when I logged on.  That means that
>>>>>>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>>>>>>> information is being cached or worse somewhere.  For my peace of
>>>>>>>>>>>> mind,
>>>>>>>>>>>> please
>>>>>>>>>>>> can you tell me about this security issue?  Thank you.
>>>>>>>>>>>> ......................
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Here is what Jeff wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> Anyway, a brief answer: Wireshark on Windows relies on WinPCAP
>>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>> do
>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> capturing.  I'm pretty sure WinPCAP won't start capturing until
>>>>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>>>>> ask
>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>> do so.  And I'm pretty sure that the OS's TCP/IP stack isn't
>>>>>>>>>>>> going
>>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>> cache
>>>>>>>>>>>> stuff to give to WinPCAP after the fact.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> (BTW, the etherXXX file is just the temporary PCAP file that
>>>>>>>>>>>> contains
>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> packets that were captured--and what Wireshark displays for you.
>>>>>>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>>>>>>> fact
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>>>> your password, etc., are in there just indicate that your
>>>>>>>>>>>> password,
>>>>>>>>>>>> etc.,
>>>>>>>>>>>> were
>>>>>>>>>>>> sent over the wire unencrypted.)
>>>>>>>>>>>> ..............
>>>>>>>>>>>> What Jeff described is what I expected but I believe that I
>>>>>>>>>>>> understand
>>>>>>>>>>>> now what I am seeing.  WS does its own DNS.  So, that explains
>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> first question.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> The second issue, however, is still a big concern.  The
>>>>>>>>>>>> etherXXXXa
>>>>>>>>>>>> file always contains the complete (passwords included)
>>>>>>>>>>>> authentication
>>>>>>>>>>>> data plus more.  Again, this unsaved (by me) login information
>>>>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>>>>> sent over the wire in the past (PPP PAP), yet it is being saved
>>>>>>>>>>>> (by
>>>>>>>>>>>> ?)
>>>>>>>>>>>> and put into this file in the present. How can I prevent this
>>>>>>>>>>>> login
>>>>>>>>>>>> info from being saved?  How can I encrypt this login info? This
>>>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>>>> security risk.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>> All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do
>>>>>>>>>>>> nothing.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>              ~Edmund Burke
>>>>>>>>>>>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent via:    Wireshark-users mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Archives:    http://www.wireshark.org/lists/wireshark-users
>>>>>>>>>>>> Unsubscribe:
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://wireshark.org/mailman/options/wireshark-users
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> mailto:wireshark-users-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>> Sent via:    Wireshark-users mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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>>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>> All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do
>>>>>>>>>> nothing.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>              ~Edmund Burke
>>>>>>>>>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> Sent via:    Wireshark-users mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>>>>> Archives:    http://www.wireshark.org/lists/wireshark-users
>>>>>>>>>> Unsubscribe: https://wireshark.org/mailman/options/wireshark-users
>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> Sent via:    Wireshark-users mailing list
>>>>>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do
>>>>>>>> nothing.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>              ~Edmund Burke
>>>>>>>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>> Sent via:    Wireshark-users mailing list
>>>>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>>> Archives:    http://www.wireshark.org/lists/wireshark-users
>>>>>>>> Unsubscribe: https://wireshark.org/mailman/options/wireshark-users
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> mailto:wireshark-users-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>> Sent via:    Wireshark-users mailing list
>>>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>>> Archives:    http://www.wireshark.org/lists/wireshark-users
>>>>>>> Unsubscribe: https://wireshark.org/mailman/options/wireshark-users
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>              ~Edmund Burke
>>>>>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>>>>>> Sent via:    Wireshark-users mailing list
>>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>> Archives:    http://www.wireshark.org/lists/wireshark-users
>>>>>> Unsubscribe: https://wireshark.org/mailman/options/wireshark-users
>>>>>>
>>>>>> mailto:wireshark-users-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe
>>>>>
>>>>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>>>>> Sent via:    Wireshark-users mailing list
>>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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>>>>> Unsubscribe: https://wireshark.org/mailman/options/wireshark-users
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.
>>>>
>>>>              ~Edmund Burke
>>>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>>>> Sent via:    Wireshark-users mailing list
>>>> <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>> Archives:    http://www.wireshark.org/lists/wireshark-users
>>>> Unsubscribe: https://wireshark.org/mailman/options/wireshark-users
>>>>
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>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.
>>
>>              ~Edmund Burke
>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>> Sent via:    Wireshark-users mailing list <wireshark-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Archives:    http://www.wireshark.org/lists/wireshark-users
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>>
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>
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--

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.

             ~Edmund Burke
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