Author

Topic: Warning: don't use -server or bitcoind where you web browse (v0.3.2 and lower) (Read 10640 times)

jr. member
Activity: 280
Merit: 1
Don't use the -server or -daemon switch or run bitcoind on a machine where you use a web browser.  It opens port 8332 on 127.0.0.1, the local loopback address, and you wouldn't think that web browsers could cross-site access it, but it is possible.

We're working on a release soon that puts a password on the JSON-RPC interface, but until then, avoid using the -server switch, and don't web browse on the same machine where bitcoind is running.

Update:
The JSON-RPC HTTP authentication feature in 0.3.3 solves this problem.
satoshi:you are a right topic in our bitcoin forum,If you want to say that any earnings will be used on their computer, then the account will be banned. If I say that the server or the Doodle switch is not good to use on the computer.If anybody else wants to use another account on the same computer, then he must make a mistake. A new action, you are working in the release soon, that keeps a password on the JSON-RPC interface,And then we must avoid the problem.It is necessary to overcome the problem,0.3.3 soves this problem.

founder
Activity: 364
Merit: 7423
The JSON-RPC HTTP authentication feature in 0.3.3 solves this problem.
legendary
Activity: 1652
Merit: 2311
Chief Scientist
chroot: won't protect you.

Running as a separate VM:  I think will protect you.  But I thought browsers wouldn't allow XMLHTTPRequests to "localhost" from web pages fetched from the web, so my advice would be to test it.  See if you can talk to the Bitcoin daemon from another VM on the same machine by running "bitcoind getinfo" or "bitcoin getinfo" on the non-bitcoin-vm.
member
Activity: 94
Merit: 10
I'm full of dumb questions today: Are there any other conceivable problems? And would the daemon be protected of it were on a VM and/or chrooted? Thanks.



legendary
Activity: 1652
Merit: 2311
Chief Scientist
You can still generate bitcoins, just don't run bitcoind or bitcoin -server or bitcoin -daemon on machine that you use to browse the Web.

As sirius says, if you do you could browse to a website that empties your Bitcoin wallet without your knowledge or permission.
sr. member
Activity: 429
Merit: 1002
Quote
Don't use the -server or -daemon switch or run bitcoind on a machine where you use a web browser.  It opens port 8332 on 127.0.0.1, the local loopback address, and you wouldn't think that web browsers could cross-site access it, but it is possible.

This sounds like something I would not like to have happen, but what does it mean? Let's face it, we're ALL generating Bitcoins on everything we can get hold of. What is the potential damage, in language my Mom might understand?

Malicious websites could have a javascript that steals all your coins.
member
Activity: 94
Merit: 10
Quote
Don't use the -server or -daemon switch or run bitcoind on a machine where you use a web browser.  It opens port 8332 on 127.0.0.1, the local loopback address, and you wouldn't think that web browsers could cross-site access it, but it is possible.

This sounds like something I would not like to have happen, but what does it mean? Let's face it, we're ALL generating Bitcoins on everything we can get hold of. What is the potential damage, in language my Mom might understand?


newbie
Activity: 1
Merit: 0
this is the only computer i have at present i am working on getting a standalone for the bit coin program until then how do i retain the kash if the connection is lost?
sr. member
Activity: 308
Merit: 250
Franzl: >_> I abhor PHP, so I can't help you there, but some day (Completely overwhelmed with projects right now, but some day...) we might write the .net library.
newbie
Activity: 8
Merit: 0
Martin (another forum member and I) were talking about writing a .Net compatible library for integrating bitcoins into other programs.

I think this is a very good idea! I also think it's important to have a PHP library since this is an important programming language for e-commerce sites. It would help a great deal in acceptance of bitcoin as a currency.
sr. member
Activity: 308
Merit: 250
satoshi: How many other developers do you have working with you?

Martin (another forum member and I) were talking about writing a .Net compatible library for integrating bitcoins into other programs.
founder
Activity: 364
Merit: 7423
Don't use the -server or -daemon switch or run bitcoind on a machine where you use a web browser.  It opens port 8332 on 127.0.0.1, the local loopback address, and you wouldn't think that web browsers could cross-site access it, but it is possible.

We're working on a release soon that puts a password on the JSON-RPC interface, but until then, avoid using the -server switch, and don't web browse on the same machine where bitcoind is running.

Update:
The JSON-RPC HTTP authentication feature in 0.3.3 solves this problem.
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