Absence of MTA-STS records for email servers
Vulnerable Domain: eclipse.org
Vulnerability Description:
Upon examining the DNS (Domain Name System) record, l realized that the MTA-STS record is missing. The MTA-STS mechanism is designed to enforce secure email communication by requiring the use of TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption. However, in this case, the absence of the MTA-STS record exposes the email infrastructure to potential security vulnerabilities.
Expected Behaviour:
The MTA-STS record should be correctly configured and published in the DNS records for the domain eclipse.org It is essential for secure email communication and enforcing TLS encryption for all incoming and outgoing email traffic
Proof of Concept:
Impact:
* Email Security Risk: Without an MTA-STS record, the domain is vulnerable to man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks,
where email traffic can be intercepted or altered in transit.
* Email Deliverability Issues: Some mail servers may reject or mark emails as suspicious if they cannot verify the secure connection using MTA-STS.
* Non-compliance: Domains without MTA-STS records may not comply with modern email security best practices, which could affect the trustworthiness of the domain.
Mitigation:
* Please make sure the DNS configuration for the domain includes the MTA-STS policy.
This can be done by adding a DNS TXT record for the domain (e.g.,mta~sts. domain. com), specifying the MTA-STS policy.
* Enable HTTPS for MTA-STS Reports: Set up a reporting URL. for MTA-STS to receive reports about issues with MTA-STS validation.
* Monitor Email Security: Regularly check the status of the MTA-STS record to ensure it is configured correctly and functioning as intended.
* DNS Propagation: After setting up the MTA-STS record, verify that DNS changes have been propagated and are accessible from external sources.
Additional Notes:
* MTA-STS provides an additional layer of email security by enforcing TLS encryption between mail servers. It is highly recommended for domains handling sensitive communications.