/Port_Authority

Blocks websites from using javascript to port scan your computer/network and dynamically blocks all LexisNexis endpoints from running their invasive data collection scripts.

Primary LanguageJavaScriptGNU General Public License v2.0GPL-2.0

for Firefox

Port Authority

Blocks websites from using javascript to port scan your computer/network and dynamically blocks all LexisNexis endpoints from running their invasive data collection scripts.
GUIThe GUI with options to toggle the functionality of the addon. Chick-Fil-AThe sign-in page on chick-fil-a.com (temporarily disable uBlockOrigin) you will see chick fil a trying to port scan your computer through web sockets. Discord Discord port scans your computer trying to connect with the desktop Discord app.

What does this addon do?

  1. Blocks all possible types of port scanning through your browser (HTTP/HTTPS/WS/WSS/FTP/FTPS)
  2. Dynamically blocks the ThreatMetrix tracking scripts made by one of the largest and least ethical data brokers in the world (Lexis Nexis)
  3. Easily auditable, with the core functionality being about 150 lines of code. HERE
  4. Gives a nice notification when one of the above scenarios are blocked
  5. This addon doesn't store/transmit any data or metadata about you or your requests... because, ya know, privacy

Donations ❤️

If you are feeling generous or really like my work, consider donating or sponsoring my GitHub :) Any small amount helps (even $1).

  • https://github.com/sponsors/ACK-J
  • Monero Address: 44MsQyiLdRsWokDWW8w5GegKevaJPtxG65HDd18hb4dX2ALhgPY2qrAhj4iyxDnumM3upMKuhA2BtiAyNAyCkvC97k1PZxc
  • Z-Cash Address: zs1u6s644dagu62hgq4zhpt2ywma70ccz7y60qsltf96tc7u2uxng3caqhlqnfsh96qlcymzgddaav

Regex Explanation

Test HTTP / HTTPS Portscanning

Test Websocket Portscanning

  • Site where you can test if WebSocket port scanning works: http://frontend-overflowstack.com/
  • Click CTRL + Shift + I to see the networking tab where the blocked port scans will be shown.

Test sites that port scan you or otherwise run ThreatMetrix scripts (Wall of Shame!)

Permissions Needed

Display notifications to you

  • This is needed so the addon can alert you when a malicious script is blocked or javascript port scanning is blocked.

Access browser tabs

  • This is needed so the addon can display the correct number of blocked requests on a per-tab basis.

Access your data for all websites

  • This is needed because the addon needs to check every request your browser makes to determine if it needs to be blocked.

Why I wrote this addon?

I was intrigued back in May of 2020 when eBay got caught port scanning their customers. I noticed that all of the articles covering this topic mentioned that there was nothing you could do to prevent it... so I wanted to make one. After going down many rabbit holes, I found that this script which was port scanning everyone is, in my opinion, malware.

Here's why I think that:

  • The data being exfiled from your computer is encrypted into an image with XOR.
  • The domain it reaches out to is made to look legitimate but redirects using a CNAME record to Lexis Nexis' servers.
  • It can determine your “real IP” address even if you use a VPN / Proxy HERE.
  • The javascript is assembled via string.join (like malware often does) and then executed in a service worker.
  • Each time you load the page, the javascript is re-obfuscated.
  • The script collects 416 pieces of personally identifiable information about you and your network. ( Shown HERE )

So I developed multiple ways to stop this. The first being the existing functionality built into Port Authority. By default, Port Authority will check the sites that your browser reaches out to, and if it redirects to Lexis Nexis' infrastructure, it will be blocked, and you will receive a notification. The second is a Python script I wrote which uses Shodan to find all of Lexis Nexis' customer-specific domains on the internet HERE. You can add the script's output to a blocker such as uBlockOrigin to prevent your computer from connecting to them.

Note: This second method will never include every customer-specific endpoint, so you are better off using the dynamic blocking built into Port Authority which WILL block every customer-specific endpoint Lexis Nexis uses.

Most of these sites are using Lexis Nexis's Threat Metrix scripts. Dan Nemec has an excellent blog post reverse engineering the script and showing all the invasive data collected https://blog.nem.ec/2020/05/24/ebay-port-scanning/

WARNING

USING SOCKS5 PROXIES WITH THIS ADDON WILL CAUSE DNS LEAKS DUE TO HOW FIREFOX HANDLES CNAME LOOKUPS. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE HERE ACK-J#7 (comment)

  • There is a simple fix for this. Type about:config in your browser, accept the warning, search for network.trr.mode and change it to 3

ToDo:

  • Port to Chrome
  • Add functionality to UI
    • Make blocked domains and ports show up in UI