Why broken verification emails matter

Today, I received an email from my bank that showed critical vulnerabilities in their email security practices—a concern that should not be overlooked. Despite being from a reputable bank, the email failed several key security checks: The email came from an IP address not authorized by the bank's SPF record, indicating a potential spoofing risk. There was no DKIM signature, meaning the integrity of the email cannot be verified, increasing the risk of tampering during transit. The lack of a DMARC record meant the email was delivered without stringent checks, which would typically prevent such emails from reaching users. Gmail marked this email with a question mark icon, signaling it as suspicious. However, without proper DMARC enforcement, emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks can still reach users, making it easy for phishing attempts to succeed under the guise of legitimate sources. Why is this important? Banks hold sensitive customer data and financial information, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. Implementing and enforcing SPF, DKIM, and especially DMARC is crucial in safeguarding this data and maintaining trust in digital communications. Call to Action: I urge all financial institutions to review and strengthen their email security protocols immediately. Failing to do so not only puts customers at risk but also jeopardizes the institution's credibility. Stay Safe: Always verify the authenticity of emails, especially those that involve financial transactions or sensitive information sharing. Look for signs like the question mark icon in Gmail, and when in doubt, directly contact your bank through official channels. Let’s prioritize security and safeguard our digital communications!

Ever had a paper cut? It’s tiny. Almost invisible. But wow, does it sting. It’s the kind of pain that seems wildly disproportionate to the cause. That’s what a broken email authentication setup is like. - Your SPF record is missing a colon. - Your DKIM is misaligned. - Your DMARC is on “none” when it should be “quarantine” or “reject.” Small issues. But they cause outsized damage. 🔹Emails don’t land in inboxes. 🔹Open rates plummet. 🔹Your audience doesn’t see your offers. 🔹And your list? Slowly burns out. And you don’t even know it’s happening. Because these are invisible paper cuts to your business. The fix? Get your authentication right - SPF, DKIM, DMARC - and monitor your setup regularly. It’s not just tech hygiene. It’s inbox insurance. Small things can hurt the most. Especially when you don’t know they’re broken. Do you regularly check your DMARC report?

🚨 Bug Bounty Alert! 🚨 📍 Platform: YesWeHack 🐞 Vulnerability: Email Verification Bypass 💸 Bounty Awarded: €200 📊 Severity: Low 3.1 During a recent assessment, I discovered an Email Verification Bypass vulnerability that allowed attackers to register accounts without confirming ownership of the email address. 🧪 What Happened: 1️⃣ Registered using a valid, unused email 2️⃣ Was shown a "Verify your email" page 3️⃣ Hit the browser back button instead of verifying 4️⃣ Landed back on the login page 5️⃣ Entered the same valid email and password ✅ Landed directly in the account dashboard — without ever verifying the email ⚠️ Why It Matters: • Breaks trust in authentication flow • Enables fake or impersonated account creation • Introduces risk of account takeover in certain edge cases 🔧 What Should Be Fixed: • Enforce strict server-side validation for email verification • Prevent account creation unless email ownership is fully confirmed 💡 Takeaway: Authentication is only as strong as its weakest checkpoint. Overlooking proper email verification opens the door to serious identity and access control issues. Small bugs like this can lead to big problems if left unchecked. Grateful to the YesWeHack team for the smooth triage and quick response. #BugBounty #CyberSecurity #EthicalHacking #InfoSec #WebSecurity #EmailSecurity #ApplicationSecurity #YesWeHack #HackerMindset #ResponsibleDisclosure #SecurityResearch

🛡️ Understanding Pre-Account Takeover Account creation without email verification enables anyone to register with any email address. SSO account linking means that when the legitimate user later uses SSO (e.g., Google), they’re unknowingly connected to the attacker’s account. Timing: this exploit only works if the victim hasn’t created an account yet but later logs in via SSO. 🔍 How the attack unfolds: Attacker signs up using the victim’s email and sets a password. Since there’s no email verification, the attacker successfully holds the account. Later, victim uses SSO, automatically linking into the attacker’s account. Attacker then logs in and steals sensitive data—clean, silent, and fully in the ✅ Why it matters: This is a stealthy vulnerability that bypasses traditional email confirmation and SSO best practices. With the prevalence of SSO-enabled apps, it’s more than a corner case—it’s a genuine risk.