Re: Alcatel ADSL Backdoor

From: Cedric Blancher (blancher@CARTEL-INFO.FR)
Date: Fri Apr 13 2001 - 01:19:10 PDT

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    On Thu, 12 Apr 2001 21:39:37 Spookah . wrote:
    
    > The machine has an account with full priveledges with no password, so you
    > just call that a vulnerability?  Give me a break.
    
    When a telecom operator supplies you a leased line and has complete acces
    to your access router, do you call that a backdoor ? If this access has
    weak protection, do you call that a backdoor ?
    
    > You say below the alcatel modems _can_ be accessed from the DSLAM via
    > this
    > passwordless account, so of course there is a concern over spying.  If
    > you
    > were to sell adsl modems, why would you setup no password and allow
    > access
    > from the DSLAM?  Can you think of any _real_ reason?  I can't.
    
    Stop kidding me... Do you think someone who cain gain access over DSLAM
    needs to get into your modem to spy your activity ? Do you think your
    telecom operator needs to get into your access equipement to spy you ?!
    As I do against access routers on which I do not have complete control, I
    have a filtering ruleset to restrict access from my LAN to my modem and in
    the over way.
    
    > My question is, what is YOUR definition of a backdoor as apposed to a
    > security problem.  Because an administrator account with no password
    > accessably by the DSLAM sure as hell sounds like a backdoor to me.
    
    A backdoor is for me a hidden access to an equipment for malicious
    purposes, such as spying pruposes.
    As my telecom operator, from which I rent my ADSL modem, is able to make
    changes on it, I do know they have an access to it. What I did not know was
    that access was protected like this, and I thank Shimomura and Perrine for
    having raised that point.
    
    I do agree that Alcatel should give acces restriction to network services
    that provide ADSL modem (or provide user documentation for those features),
    that Alcatel should enhance its security mecanism. I do agree there is a
    major security issue there. But backdoor, to my definition of backdoor,
    seems not be the appropriate term.
    
    --
    Cedric Blancher
    Consultant securite systeme et reseau
    Cartel Informatique
    http://securite.cartel-info.fr/
    



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