Overview -------- British Telecom (BT) operates an automated fault detection and reporting system that allows anyone to test any line. If the line is found to be faulty the caller is given an option to divert all incoming calls for that line to another number, including mobile phones. No authentication is required and the owner of the line will be oblivious to the fact that her calls are being hijacked. Impact ------ An attacker who is either aware of a faulty line or in a position to cause a fault on a line (e.g. by cutting/shorting it) is able to hijack all incoming calls to that line without the owners knowledge or consent. Whilst BT will have a log of the number to which the calls have been diverted, in these days of mobile-phone vending machines, this information is useless. Workaround ---------- Switch to a telephone company that has a clue. BT may work around this problem by employing more staff rather than trying to save money by implementing buggy, tortuous, irritating, automated systems. Status ------ BT Engineers were notified. _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/