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’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.