Software Engineering Institute

Notify Technology NotifyLink Enterprise Server allows users to synchronize e-mail between a PDA and a mail server. The application consists of a PDA-specific client and the NotifyLink server, which acts as a proxy between the client and the mail server(s) the user wants to check. For each e-mail account to be monitored, the user provides mail server credentials that are stored on the NotifyLink server and used to periodically check for mail. When new mail arrives, the NotifyLink server stores a reference to the message ID. Depending on the configuration, the message is either sent to the device via SMS ("Push" mode), or the device periodically checks a link on the NotifyLink web server to retrieve the message ("Poll" mode). The product supports multiple PDA platforms and multiple e-mail servers, including IMAP, POP, Microsoft Exchange, and Novell GroupWise.

The NotifyLink web interface allows administrative users to view each client user's current NotifyLink and mail server passwords by accessing their user information page. This level of access to private user data is inappropriate, even for administrative users, and can be abused in several ways. For example, an attacker or casual observer can obtain passwords via "over the shoulder" observation of the administrator's workstation. Also, any attacker that can gain administrative access to the NotifyLink server can retrieve the NotifyLink and mail server credentials of all users with relative ease.

This vulnerability grants administrative users inappropriate access to private user password information.

Upgrade or Patch
This issue is resolved in NotifyLink 3.0. Starting with this version, the client and administrator interfaces will not display passwords.