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143,993 - Pentesting IMAP ​

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Internet Message Access Protocol ​

The Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is designed for the purpose of enabling users to access their email messages from any location, primarily through an Internet connection. In essence, emails are retained on a server rather than being downloaded and stored on an individual's personal device. This means that when an email is accessed or read, it is done directly from the server. This capability allows for the convenience of checking emails from multiple devices, ensuring that no messages are missed regardless of the device used.

By default, the IMAP protocol works on two ports:

  • Port 143 - this is the default IMAP non-encrypted port
  • Port 993 - this is the port you need to use if you want to connect using IMAP securely
PORT    STATE SERVICE REASON
143/tcp open  imap    syn-ack
bash
nc -nv <IP> 143
openssl s_client -connect <IP>:993 -quiet

NTLM Auth - Information disclosure ​

If the server supports NTLM auth (Windows) you can obtain sensitive info (versions):

root@kali: telnet example.com 143 
* OK The Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service is ready. 
>> a1 AUTHENTICATE NTLM 
+ 
>> TlRMTVNTUAABAAAAB4IIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA= 
+ TlRMTVNTUAACAAAACgAKADgAAAAFgooCBqqVKFrKPCMAAAAAAAAAAEgASABCAAAABgOAJQAAAA9JAEkAUwAwADEAAgAKAEkASQBTADAAMQABAAoASQBJAFMAMAAxAAQACgBJAEkAUwAwADEAAwAKAEkASQBTADAAMQAHAAgAHwMI0VPy1QEAAAAA

Or automate this with nmap plugin imap-ntlm-info.nse

IMAP Bruteforce ​

Syntax ​

IAMP Commands examples from here:

Login
    A1 LOGIN username password
Values can be quoted to enclose spaces and special characters. A " must then be escape with a \
    A1 LOGIN "username" "password"

List Folders/Mailboxes
    A1 LIST "" *
    A1 LIST INBOX *
    A1 LIST "Archive" *

Create new Folder/Mailbox
    A1 CREATE INBOX.Archive.2012
    A1 CREATE "To Read"

Delete Folder/Mailbox
    A1 DELETE INBOX.Archive.2012
    A1 DELETE "To Read"

Rename Folder/Mailbox
    A1 RENAME "INBOX.One" "INBOX.Two"

List Subscribed Mailboxes
    A1 LSUB "" *

Status of Mailbox (There are more flags than the ones listed)
    A1 STATUS INBOX (MESSAGES UNSEEN RECENT)

Select a mailbox
    A1 SELECT INBOX

List messages
    A1 FETCH 1:* (FLAGS)
    A1 UID FETCH 1:* (FLAGS)

Retrieve Message Content
    A1 FETCH 2 body[text]
    A1 FETCH 2 all
    A1 UID FETCH 102 (UID RFC822.SIZE BODY.PEEK[])

Close Mailbox
    A1 CLOSE

Logout
    A1 LOGOUT

Evolution ​

apt install evolution

CURL ​

Basic navigation is possible with CURL, but the documentation is light on details so checking the source is recommended for precise details.

  1. Listing mailboxes (imap command LIST "" "*")
bash
curl -k 'imaps://1.2.3.4/' --user user:pass
  1. Listing messages in a mailbox (imap command SELECT INBOX and then SEARCH ALL)
bash
curl -k 'imaps://1.2.3.4/INBOX?ALL' --user user:pass

The result of this search is a list of message indicies.

Its also possible to provide more complex search terms. e.g. searching for drafts with password in mail body:

bash
curl -k 'imaps://1.2.3.4/Drafts?TEXT password' --user user:pass

A nice overview of the search terms possible is located here.

  1. Downloading a message (imap command SELECT Drafts and then FETCH 1 BODY[])
bash
curl -k 'imaps://1.2.3.4/Drafts;MAILINDEX=1' --user user:pass

The mail index will be the same index returned from the search operation.

It is also possible to use UID (unique id) to access messages, however it is less conveniant as the search command needs to be manually formatted. E.g.

bash
curl -k 'imaps://1.2.3.4/INBOX' -X 'UID SEARCH ALL' --user user:pass
curl -k 'imaps://1.2.3.4/INBOX;UID=1' --user user:pass

Also, possible to download just parts of a message, e.g. subject and sender of first 5 messages (the -v is required to see the subject and sender):

bash
$ curl -k 'imaps://1.2.3.4/INBOX' -X 'FETCH 1:5 BODY[HEADER.FIELDS (SUBJECT FROM)]' --user user:pass -v 2>&1 | grep '^<'

Although, its probably cleaner to just write a little for loop:

bash
for m in {1..5}; do
  echo $m
  curl "imap://1.2.3.4/INBOX;MAILINDEX=$m;SECTION=HEADER.FIELDS%20(SUBJECT%20FROM)" --user user:pass
done

Shodan ​

  • port:143 CAPABILITY
  • port:993 CAPABILITY

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HackTricks Automatic Commands ​

Protocol_Name: IMAP    #Protocol Abbreviation if there is one.
Port_Number:  143,993     #Comma separated if there is more than one.
Protocol_Description: Internet Message Access Protocol         #Protocol Abbreviation Spelled out

Entry_1:
  Name: Notes
  Description: Notes for WHOIS
  Note: |
    The Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is designed for the purpose of enabling users to access their email messages from any location, primarily through an Internet connection. In essence, emails are retained on a server rather than being downloaded and stored on an individual's personal device. This means that when an email is accessed or read, it is done directly from the server. This capability allows for the convenience of checking emails from multiple devices, ensuring that no messages are missed regardless of the device used.

    https://book.hacktricks.xyz/pentesting/pentesting-imap

Entry_2:
  Name: Banner Grab
  Description: Banner Grab 143
  Command: nc -nv {IP} 143

Entry_3:
  Name: Secure Banner Grab
  Description: Banner Grab 993
  Command: openssl s_client -connect {IP}:993 -quiet
  
Entry_4:
  Name: consolesless mfs enumeration
  Description: IMAP enumeration without the need to run msfconsole
  Note: sourced from https://github.com/carlospolop/legion
  Command: msfconsole -q -x 'use auxiliary/scanner/imap/imap_version; set RHOSTS {IP}; set RPORT 143; run; exit'
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