Hackers Bypass WoW Authenticators

Last week reports of a "man-in-the-middle-attack" surfaced in regards to Blizzard's MMORPG. World of Warcraft. Apparently hackers have created a tool that grants them access to accounts protected by an authentication tool. Once they are in control of the account, hackers can thus steal virtual gold and possessions until the account password is reset. Currently there's no indication if the hackers gain access to data such as credit cards or other personal information.

The tool in question is a keylogger, possibly a file named emcor.dll which can be found in C:/Documents and Settings/Users/[username]/Application Data/Temp. Once the user launches the keylogger, the PC is infected and will in turn cause World of Warcraft to crash. Once the players re-start the game and log back into the account, the authenticator code is intercepted by the hacker. A different code is sent to Blizzard's servers, locking the player out.

So how do players get the keylogger on their PC? It all starts with a sponsored link in Google showing up as a top result for WowMatrix, a free World of Warcraft add-on installer and updater. The problem is that the listing isn't a genuine, leading gamers to the malware. "Several downloads are available and I decided to check out the installer / updater," reads this forum post. "Results are pretty low at virustotal for the executable. The detection of the DLL hooked into our system is even worse, only 1 antivirus suspects some illegal activity."

Because authenticator codes only last for 30 seconds, hackers have access to the WoW account until they log out. "This is still perpetrated by key loggers, and no method is always 100% secure," Blizzard said in this forum post.

WoW gamers are warned to stay away from the following sites, which are actually based on legitimate WoW related sites with a typo at the end of each URL:

  • wowmatrixf(dot)com
  • Cursea(dot)com
  • deadlybossmodss(dot)com
  • gamesacca(dot)com
  • dtm4trix
    bummer! Never ceases to amaze me what people will do.
    Reply
  • the_krasno
    People do that stuff with Steam all the time. You have to be very wary of which links you click on!
    Reply
  • maigo
    There have been a few actual addons that did the same
    Reply
  • tayb
    This must have been what happened to this guy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdBrYfxSXWc
    Reply
  • MxM
    This is why you need to manually install all add-ons, do not trust exe files!
    Reply
  • captaincharisma
    i can see the threatening you tube videos from the biggest geeks in the world now
    Reply
  • People still play WoW?
    Reply
  • mayne92
    Jigga WhatPeople still play WoW?I have never played it...but for last 2 semesters this same kid plays WoW EVERYDAY in class on his laptop...all day long. Not bad for a $30k+/yr college...
    Reply
  • fjjb
    Why they place emphasis on WoW? they should be looking for a way to hack the Assasins creed DRM!!!
    Reply
  • captaincharisma
    with so many people PO'ed about it it will only be a matter of time before its cracked
    Reply