26M Texts Exposed in Poorly Secured Vovox Database

The server, which lacked password protection, contained tens of millions of SMS messages, two-factor codes, shipping alerts, and other user data.

A poorly secured database exposed at least 26 million text messages, password reset links and codes, two-factor verification codes, temporary passwords, shipping alerts, and other information belonging to customers of companies including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.
The leaky database, owned by communications firm Vovox, was found on Shodan by Sébastien Kaul, a security researcher based in Berlin. Kaul discovered the database lacked password protection and left names, phone numbers, and text messages easily searchable. Vovox took down the database after it was contacted with an inquiry from TechCrunch.
However, while the server was still running, anyone could have obtained two-factor codes sent by people attempting account logins. This level of accessibility could have let someone easily take over an account protected with two-factor authentication and an SMS verification code.
While the codes and links exposed are only useful for a finite period of time, there is a risk that attackers were able to compromise users. Security experts have long been wary of SMS verification, saying its insufficient to properly protect users data – a lesson learned in the August Reddit breach, which engineers said
was rooted
in SMS-based two-factor authentication.
Read more details about the Vovox leak
here
.

Black Hat Europe returns to London Dec 3-6 2018 with hands-on technical Trainings, cutting-edge Briefings, Arsenal open-source tool demonstrations, top-tier security solutions and service providers in the Business Hall. Click for information on the
conference
and
to register.

Last News
▸ ArcSight prepares for future at user conference post HP acquisition. ◂ Discovered: 07/01/2025 Category: security	▸ Samsung Epic 4G: First To Use Media Hub ◂ Discovered: 07/01/2025 Category: security	▸ Many third-party software fails security tests ◂ Discovered: 07/01/2025 Category: security

**Cyber Security Categories**
Google Dorks Database	Exploits Vulnerability	Exploit Shellcodes

CVE List

Tools/Apps

News/Aarticles

Phishing Database

Deepfake Detection

Trends/Statistics & Live Infos

Tags:
26M Texts Exposed in Poorly Secured Vovox Database