SSLv2: The Zombie Protocol That Just Won’t Die!

Hot Take:

The SSL 2.0 saga is dragging on longer than a bad reality TV show, and just like those cringe-worthy moments, it’s still somehow getting airtime. Despite the steady decline, we’re now seeing more SSLv2-enabled servers than a year ago. Either Shodan got a serious upgrade, or people just love living dangerously.

Key Points:

• SSLv2 support is still lingering, with about 492,000 web servers detected.
• Percentage of servers supporting SSLv2 slightly decreased from 0.319% to 0.307%.
• Recent spike in detections could be due to improved Shodan capabilities.
• Qualys SSL Labs shows a drop in SSLv2 support to 0.1% of scanned servers.
• SSLv2’s continued presence highlights broader issues of outdated and vulnerable systems.

SSLv2: The Zombie Protocol That Won’t Die

It seems SSL 2.0 is like that one pair of socks you can’t throw away. Despite being 30 years old and long considered obsolete, it’s still hanging around, refusing to go gently into that good night. According to recent scans, there are approximately 492,000 web servers out there still supporting SSLv2. This is up from 464,000 last year. Either the servers are breeding, or Shodan, the internet’s biggest peeping Tom, has gotten better at spotting them.

Why the Increase? Oh, Shodan!

The uptick in SSLv2 detections isn’t necessarily a sign that more servers are supporting this ancient protocol. It might just be Shodan flexing its detection muscles. Think of it as Shodan getting a new pair of glasses and suddenly realizing how messy the room has been this whole time. The recent three-month surge in SSLv2-enabled servers could very well be the result of improved detection capabilities rather than an actual increase in the number of such servers.

Qualys to the Rescue

Qualys SSL Labs, the superhero we didn’t know we needed, has also weighed in on the issue. Their latest stats reveal that only 171 out of the servers they scanned in May 2024 still support SSLv2. That’s a significant drop from last year’s 248, representing just 0.1% of all scanned servers. This suggests that while SSLv2 is still out there, its days are numbered. Unless, of course, there’s a secret society of SSLv2 enthusiasts plotting to keep it alive.

The Bigger Picture: Outdated Tech and Technical Debt

The real issue isn’t just that SSLv2 is still supported; it’s that these servers are likely running outdated and vulnerable software. Imagine using a flip phone in 2024; that’s what supporting SSLv2 is like. Browsers today are smarter and won’t even consider using SSLv2, but the fact that these servers still do is a big red flag. It’s like having a sign that says, “Hack me, I’m old and weak!” This highlights a larger problem of technical debt that could come back to haunt us.

Conclusion: The Proverbial Iceberg

SSLv2’s stubborn presence is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to outdated technology and vulnerabilities. As a society, we’ve built up a massive amount of technical debt that’s just waiting to cause trouble. It’s like knowing there’s a time bomb ticking away somewhere but deciding to deal with it “later.” So, while the overall trend of moving away from SSLv2 is positive, the fact that it’s still around in any capacity is a reminder that we have a lot of work to do.

In conclusion, we may be inching closer to a world free of SSLv2, but the road ahead is still fraught with outdated servers and lurking vulnerabilities. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and we need to stay vigilant. Until then, let’s hope Shodan keeps its new glasses on and continues to shine a light on these relics of the past.