Hackers Can Exploit ‘Forced Authentication’ to Steal Windows NTLM Tokens

From thehackernews.com

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a case of “forced authentication” that could be exploited to leak a Windows user’s NT LAN Manager (NTLM) tokens by tricking a victim into opening a specially crafted Microsoft Access file.

The attack takes advantage of a legitimate feature in the database management system solution that allows users to link to external data sources, such as a remote SQL Server table.

“This feature can be abused by attackers to automatically leak the Windows user’s NTLM tokens to any attacker-controlled server, via any TCP port, such as port 80,” Check Point security researcher Haifei Li said. “The attack can be launched as long as the victim opens an .accdb or .mdb file. In fact, any more-common Office file type (such as a .rtf ) can work as well.”

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