Easy P3 Bug: A Spoofing Vulnerability

My name is Shridhar Rajaput, and as a security researcher, I constantly explore the intricacies of cybersecurity. Recently, I encountered a concerning vulnerability related to email security that revealed significant risks associated with missing protective measures.

One afternoon, while investigating an email domain, I noticed something alarming: the absence of essential email authentication protocols — SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These records play a critical role in preventing email spoofing, a technique often used by malicious actors to impersonate legitimate senders and deceive recipients.

Curious about the implications of this oversight, I delved deeper into the situation. Without SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, the domain was left vulnerable to spoofing attacks, allowing anyone to send emails that appeared to originate from the legitimate domain.

The implications of this missing security were serious. I could envision a scenario where an attacker, armed with just a few simple tools, could easily forge emails that appeared to come from trusted sources. Imagine the chaos that could ensue! Phishing attacks could run rampant, users might unwittingly provide sensitive information, and trust in the domain would plummet. Not to mention the risk of malware spreading like wildfire through unsuspecting recipients.

Curiosity piqued, I decided to put this vulnerability to the test. I crafted a spoofed email, leveraging the absence of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. With a few clicks, I sent the email off into the digital ether, using ProtonMail to receive it. The ease with which I could execute this attack was both alarming and illuminating, confirming my fears about the domain’s security posture.

Realizing the urgency of the situation, I meticulously documented my findings. I outlined the necessity for the domain to implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, emphasizing that each one serves a critical purpose:

No DKIM: This oversight classifies the vulnerability as a P5.No DMARC: This elevates it to a P4.No valid SPF: All combined, this amounts to a P3 vulnerability.

For those looking to check or implement these records, here are some helpful tools:

SPF, DKIM and DMARC Record Checker : https://easydmarc.com/tools/domain-scanner?domainFake Email Sender : https://emkei.cz/Email Receiver : https://proton.me/mail

With a sense of urgency, I submitted my report, eager for the team to address this critical issue. However, to my surprise, I soon learned that this vulnerability had already been reported as a duplicate and remained unresolved. This experience served as a poignant reminder of the importance of collaboration within the cybersecurity community.

As I reflected on my journey, I realized that even simple oversights in email security can have profound consequences. By raising awareness and advocating for robust email authentication practices, we can work together to enhance the safety of our digital communications.

If you’d like to connect or discuss further, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn: Shridhar-Rajaput