Zendesk Takeover Detection Scanner

Zendesk is a popular customer service platform used by businesses to handle support and interactions with customers. It helps streamline communication through various channels like email, chat, and social media. Companies of all sizes rely on Zendesk to improve their customer support operations. The platform is used globally by customer service teams to manage tickets and provide efficient support. It is adaptable to various industries, making it a versatile tool for addressing customer service challenges. Zendesk's integration capabilities allow businesses to connect it with other tools in their tech stack, enhancing the overall customer experience.

The takeover vulnerability is an issue where malicious actors can potentially control some aspect of a service due to misconfigurations or unintended settings. This type of vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access or manipulation of the service. For Zendesk, this could involve taking control over a particular help center or instance. Detecting such vulnerabilities is critical to preventing misuse or data compromise. By enabling attackers to control parts of the service, it poses risks to the service's integrity and availability. Therefore, robust security measures are necessary to safeguard against such incidents.

Technically, this vulnerability revolves around the configuration and domain settings of Zendesk instances. It can occur if the canonical name (CNAME) record is not properly managed, allowing attackers to hijack unclaimed subdomains. The endpoint typically targeted is the base URL specific to Zendesk instances. Attackers look for indications that a help center is closed or no longer exists, which can be a sign of potential takeover points. This involves matching specific error messages during scanning. If such messages are found, it suggests possible takeover opportunities requiring remediation to prevent unauthorized actions.

The potential effects of a Zendesk takeover can be severe. If an entity's subdomain is taken over, sensitive customer data could be exposed or manipulated. Malicious actors might leverage the commandeered instance to disseminate false information or conduct phishing campaigns. The service's credibility can be significantly impacted as users may encounter defects or security warnings. Such vulnerabilities can also result in service disruptions, affecting customer support operations negatively. In a worst-case scenario, full control could allow attackers to reset settings, impede customer support, or cause data breaches.

REFERENCES

• https://github.com/EdOverflow/can-i-take-over-xyz/issues/23
• https://hackerone.com/reports/869605
• https://hackerone.com/reports/759454