Use-after-FreeMail: Generalizing the use-after-free problem and applying it to email services

Daniel Gruss, Michael Schwarz, Matthias Wübbeling, Simon Guggi, Timo Malderle, Stefan More, Moritz Lipp

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paperpeer-review

Abstract

Use-after-free is a type of vulnerability commonly present in software written in memory-unsafe languages like C or C++, where a program frees a memory buffer too early. By placing counterfeit structures at the freed memory location, an attacker can leak information or gain execution control upon subsequent access. In this paper, we show that the concept of use-after-free can be generalized to any environment and situation where resources can be silently exchanged. As an instance of our generalization we demonstrate Use-After-FreeMail attacks. Use-After-FreeMail attacks gather email addresses from publicly available database leaks. The fully automated quantitative analysis brought to light that 33.5% of all free-mail addresses we tested are not valid anymore. In two user studies with 100 and 31 participants we found that 11-19% of users are affected by our attack. In qualitative case studies we investigated what information can be gained in Use-After-FreeMail attacks, e.g., payment information, and how far currently used accounts can be compromised (identity theft). Finally, drawing the connection between mitigations against traditional use-after-free scenarios and the Use-After-FreeMail scenario, we provide a concise list of recommendations to free-mail providers and users as a protection against use-after-free attacks.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationASIACCS 2018 - Proceedings of the 2018 ACM Asia Conference on Computer and Communications Security
PublisherAssociation of Computing Machinery
Pages297-311
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)9781450355766
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 May 2018
Event13th ACM Symposium on Information, Computer and Communications Security, ASIACCS 2018 - Incheon, Korea, Republic of
Duration: 4 Jun 20188 Jun 2018

Conference

Conference13th ACM Symposium on Information, Computer and Communications Security, ASIACCS 2018
Country/TerritoryKorea, Republic of
CityIncheon
Period4/06/188/06/18

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Information Systems
  • Computer Networks and Communications

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