Critical Thinking - Bug Bounty Podcast

Episode 85: Practical Applications of DEFCON 32 Web Research

Aug 22, 2024

In this discussion, security researcher Orange Tsai dives into web application vulnerabilities uncovered at DEFCON 32. He shares insights on innovative timing attacks and cache exploitation techniques. The conversation shifts to the practicalities of parsing email addresses, highlighting SMTP injection risks. Tsai also addresses the relevance of legacy protocols and their modern exploits. Lively anecdotes about DEFCON and unique collectibles add a light-hearted touch, making complex topics more engaging.

01:30:30

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Episode guests

Orange Tsai

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Understanding the complexities of Punycode manipulation can expose significant vulnerabilities within systems interpreting encoded characters.

The introduction of ring fencing as a security feature presents challenges for red teams, necessitating the adaptation of traditional tactics.

Networking and collaboration at events like Defcon foster a strong sense of community among cybersecurity professionals, enhancing knowledge sharing.

Deep dives

D Encoding and Punycode Exploits

The podcast delves into the complexity of Punycode and the associated D encoding, highlighting the confusion that can arise during this process. It discusses how manipulating Punycode could lead to potential exploits, particularly concerning how systems interpret encoded characters. The emphasis is on being cautious when handling these encoding schemes, as seemingly harmless characters can trigger significant vulnerabilities. This examination of Punycode serves as a reminder of the subtleties involved in programming and cybersecurity.

Intro

3min

DEFCON Insights and Collectible Quirks

4min

Sticker Frenzy and Research Highlights

2min

Mastering Timing Attacks and Research Innovations

21min

Email Parsing Vulnerabilities at DEFCON 32

14min

Legacy Protocols and Modern Exploits

16min

Understanding Web Cache Vulnerabilities

13min

Navigating HTTP Vulnerabilities

14min

Exploring Python Codecs and Security Implications

2min

10.

Exploring Third-Party Libraries and Trusted Types in Web Development

2min

Episode 85: In this episode of Critical Thinking - Bug Bounty Podcast Justin and Joel talk through some of the research coming out of DEFCON, mainly from the PortSwigger team. Web timing attacks, cache exploitation, and exploits related to email protocols are all featured. Plus we also talk some fun Apache hacks from Orange Tsai

We're new to this podcasting thing, so feel free to send us any feedback here: info@criticalthinkingpodcast.io

Shoutout to YTCracker for the awesome intro music!

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Resources

Listen to the whispers

https://portswigger.net/research/listen-to-the-whispers-web-timing-attacks-that-actually-work

Splitting the email atom

https://portswigger.net/research/splitting-the-email-atom

Gotta cache 'em all

https://portswigger.net/research/gotta-cache-em-all

HTTP Garden

https://github.com/narfindustries/http-garden

Confusion Attacks: Exploiting Hidden Semantic Ambiguity in Apache HTTP Server!

https://blog.orange.tw/2024/08/confusion-attacks-en.html#%E2%9C%94%EF%B8%8F-2-2-2-Local-Gadget-to-XSS