Harry Waldron - Corporate IT Security

Symantec has published a removal tool for the new Spybot.ACYR worm which manipulates the SYM06-010 vulnerability within the Norton or Symantec anti-virus product itself, (along with several popular Windows exploits).  Symantec users should apply the AV updates offered by the vendor during Spring 2006, if they have not done so yet.  The removal tool is beneficial as Spybot embeds itself within the Windows registry and it is tough to remove manually. 

W32.Spybot.ACYR - New Symantec Removal Tool

Microsoft has released an improved version of their WGA anti-piracy facility and encourages all users to move to this latest version.  Adjustments have been made based on customer feedback and issues with prior releases (e.g., false positives, etc).  

I've applied the new version successfully with no issues so far.  This control applies primarily to the Windows XP environment and allows users to upgrade to IE 7, Media Player 11, and other new software releases.    

Microsoft releases new WGA version

Microsoft WGA Knowledge Base information

Microsoft WGA Home Page

Computer World Article on New WGA version

QUOTE: This is the most current release of Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications. We encourage you to upgrade to this version. This release includes enhanced features that reflect ongoing input from customers, as well as Microsoft’s continually improving anti-piracy technology.

Specific features of this version include:

* Improved Setup – A new installation wizard provides an overview of the tool, and shows validation results immediately at the end of the installation process. No reboot is required following installation.

* Redesigned User Interface - The system tray notifications have been redesigned to make them more visually appealing with clear links to full details of each message and further options for resolving any problems.

* Improved User Assistance – Improved messaging for users who are unable to complete validation, along with links to more and better self-help tools. 

I'm thankful WOODB didn't materialize. If they had exploitable code ready to publish, maybe the
vendor  took a proactive stance?  I firmly believe all POC exploits should always be shared with the vendor in a private manner

Week of Oracle Data Base Bugs (WOODB) Project Cancelled
http://www.incidents.org/diary.php?storyid=1897
http://www.argeniss.com/woodb.html

QUOTE: Argeniss has cancelled the week of Oracle bugs due to "many problems".

The key point I took from the article is that even with the overlapping standards, you can't rely on SAS 70 meeting SOX 404 compliancy needs completely (and vise-versa). Additionally, companies that take Information Security seriously shouldn't have too much difficulty with SOX 404. Most likely you're satisifying both sufficiently where there are unique items that aren't in common with both.

 http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/8344746/c_8317584?f=home_todayinfinance

QUOTE: To be sure, it's clear that SAS 70 calls for a comprehensive report detailing the design, assessment, and effectiveness of a vendor’s internal controls and how they affect financial reporting for clients of the outsourcing services vendor.

But there are widespread misperceptions about the standard's purpose, particularly about what an audit covers in terms of technology activities, some say. "A SAS 70 is intended to be a service-auditor-to-client auditor communication tool. But some [information technology] people think it affirms privacy and security. It doesn’t," says Everett Johnson, president of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association.

http://secunia.com/advisories/23138/
http://www.us-cert.gov/current/current_activity.html#adacrxvl
http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa06-02.html
http://www.incidents.org/diary.php?storyid=1898

QUOTE: Some bugs have been discovered in Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat, which may cause an included ActiveX control to crash.

The bugs are confirmed in Adobe Reader 7.0.5 and 7.0.8 for Windows. They have also been reported in Adobe Reader 7.0.0 through 7.0.8 and Adobe Acrobat Standard and Professional 7.0.0 through 7.0.8 on the Windows platform. Prior versions may also be affected.

The vendor is currently working on an update for version 7.0.8 for Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat.

Solution: The vendor recommends deleting AcroPDF.dll (this workaround will prevent PDF documents from opening in Internet Explorer).

This new IRC based threat attempts to spread using a number of security exploits, including the SYM06-010 vulnerability recently highlighted by several security sources.  Staying up-to-date on all software updates as well AV protection, can prevent the 7 different methods this worm tries to infect vulnerable systems.  

SC Magazine Article
http://www.scmagazine.com/uk/news/article/606932/botnets-exploit-patched-symantec-stack-overflow-flaw/

Symantec Weblog
http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/security_response/weblog/2006/11/spybot_attempts_to_exploit_old.html

W32.Spybot.ACYR Description
http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2006-112810-5302-99

New Botnet impacts Symantec Client Port 2967 on unpatched PCs
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2006/11/27/new-botnet-impacts-symantec-client-port-2967-on-unpatched-pcs.aspx

Spread by exploiting the following vulnerabilities:

• The Microsoft Windows DCOM RPC Interface Buffer Overrun Vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-026)
• The Microsoft Windows Message Queuing Remote Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (as described in Microsoft Security Bullettin MS05-017)
• The Microsoft ASN.1 Library Multiple Stack-Based Buffer Overflow vulnerabilities (as described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-007)
• The Microsoft Windows Plug and Play Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (as described in Microsoft Security Bullettin MS05-017)
• The Microsoft Windows Server Service Remote Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (as described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-040)
• Multiple Vendor FTPD realpath Vulnerability (as described in CVE-1999-0368)
• Symantec Client Security and Symantec AnitVirus Elevation of privilege (as described in Symantec Advisory SYM06-010)

Apple has issued a security update for Mac OS X, which fixes multiple vulnerabilities

Mac OS X Security Update 2006-007
http://secunia.com/advisories/23155/
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304829

The 2006 edition of this list is available at the following site:

 http://sectools.org/

QUOTE: After the tremendously successful 2000 and 2003 security tools surveys, Insecure.Org is delighted to release this 2006 survey. I (Fyodor) asked users from the nmap-hackers mailing list to share their favorite tools, and 3,243 people responded. This allowed me to expand the list to 100 tools, and even subdivide them into categories. Anyone in the security field would be well advised to go over the list and investigate tools they are unfamiliar with. I discovered several powerful new tools this way. I also point newbies to this site whenever they write me saying “I don't know where to start”.

The links below provide good summary information on key security hot topics:

Keep on top of the hottest security topics

Antivirus | Botnet | Cell phone threats | DDoS | Extradition | Federated ID | Google | Hackers | IM | Jaschan (Sven) | Kid's game? | Love Bug | Microsoft | Neologisms | Open source | Passwords | Questions | Rootkits | Spyware | Two-factor authentication | USB sticks/devices | Virus variants | Wi-Fi | OS X | You | Zero-day

http://secunia.com/advisories/23139/

QUOTE: Symantec has acknowledged a vulnerability in NetBackup Puredisk, which can be exploited by malicious people to cause a DoS (Denial of Service) or potentially compromise a vulnerable system.

Some interesting blog posts associated with rolling out Vista in a corporate setting:

Building and Deploying Vista from an Image
http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/socal/archive/2006/11/28/building-and-deploying-vista-from-an-image.aspx
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2006/11/27/windows-vista-os-image-creation-and-deployment-guide.aspx

I'm seeing significant increases in SPAM activity in both corporate and personal email accounts.  Here's hoping some of the proposed actions help. 

SPAM Email - EU taking action for major increase at year-end
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9005418

QUOTE: November 27, 2006  (IDG News Service) -- The European Commission has urged its member states to beef up their efforts to cut spam, spyware and malicious software, after research showed that up to 85 percent of all e-mail received in the European Union is unsolicited.

Better cooperation with enforcement authorities from other countries, including countries outside the Union, is essential to defeat the spammers, the Commission said, noting that the The U.S. and the E.U. have agreed to tackle spam through joint enforcement initiatives.

This link provides a good indepth overview of the new Bitlocker facility, designed to offer encryption of the hard drive for Vista laptop users:

BitLocker Drive Encryption: Technical Overview
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/security/bittech.mspx

http://iase.disa.mil/stigs/checklist/index.html

Documents   Date   Size
Active Directory Checklist Version 1, Release 1.3 Updated! (posted Nov 21, 2006)  Oct 05, 2006  
379KB
Application Security Checklist Version 2, Release 1.9 Updated! (posted Nov 21, 2006)  Nov 24, 2006  
1443KB
Application Services Checklist Version 1, Release 1.1
 Sep 21, 2006  
448KB
Biometrics Checklist  
Oct 31, 2005
 
843KB
Cisco Router Checklist (Supplement to the Network Checklist V6R4)  
Dec 2, 2005
 
110KB
Database Security Checklist, Version 7, Release 2.2  Oct 29, 2006
 
749KB
Defense Switched Network Checklist Version 2, Release 3.2  
Nov 24, 2006
 
2622KB
Desktop Applications Checklist, Version 2, Release 1.6 Updated! (posted Nov 21, 2006)
 Nov 24, 2006  
817KB
Domain Name System (DNS) Checklist Version 2, Release 2  
May 16, 2006
 
1077KB
Enclave Checklist Version 3, Release 1.6  
July 2006
 
289KB
ERP STIG Security Application Checklist  Jun 2006  
1590KB
Draft Joint Information Assurance Officer Checklist  Jan 11, 2006  
78KB
Joint System Administrator Checklist
Joint System Administrator Checklog  Jan 11, 2006
Jan 11, 2006  
43KB
43KB
Draft Joint Wireless Administrator Checklist
Draft Joint Wireless Administrator Checklog  Jan 11, 2006
Oct 18, 2005  
60KB
96KB
Juniper Router Checklist (Supplement to the Network Checklist V6R4)  
Dec 2, 2005
 
124KB
Keyboard, Video, and Mouse (KVM) Switch Checklist for Sharing Peripherals Across the Network STIG Version 1, Release 1.2  April 2006  
642KB
Macintosh OS X Checklist V1R13  
April 2006
 
528KB
Multi-Function Device (MFD) Checklist for Sharing Peripherals Across the Network STIG Version 1, Release 1.2  April 2006  
471KB
.NET Framework Security Checklist V1R2
.NET Framework Security Memo
.NET Framework Security Comment Matrix  May 2006
Oct 19, 2005
Oct 19, 2005
 
627KB
27KB
21KB
NetOps Checklist  
Sept 20,2005
 
1926KB
Network Checklist Version 6, Release 4.4  Jul 21, 2006  
2,453KB
Open VMS Security Checklist  April 2006  
310KB
OS/390 Logical Partition Checklist  
April 2006
 
688KB
OS/390 RACF Checklist Version 5, Release 2.1 Updated! (posted Nov 21, 2006)  
Nov 2006
 
2508KB
OS/390 ACF2 Checklist Version 5, Release 2.1 Updated! (posted Nov 21, 2006)  
Nov 2006
 
2877KB
OS/390 Self Assessment Checklist  April 2006  
853KB
OS/390 TSS Checklist Version 5, Release 2.1 Updated! (posted Nov 21, 2006)  
Nov 2006
 
2596KB
Storage Area Network (SAN) Checklist for Sharing Peripherals Across the Network STIG Version 1, Release 1.3  May 2006  
955KB
Tandem Checklist V2R1.2  
April 2006
 
2,670KB
Traditional Basic Checklist  
May 2006
 
1438KB
Traditional Common Compliance Validation Checklist  
May 2006
 
534KB
Traditional DISA Checklist  
May 2006
 
549KB
Traditional NIPRNET Compliance Validation Checklist  
May 2006
 
137KB
Traditional SIPRNET Compliance Validation Checklist  May 2006  
1607KB
Unisys Checklist Version 7, Release 2  
Nov 24, 2006
 
1236KB
Universal Serial Bus (USB) Checklist for Sharing Peripherals Across the Network STIG Version 1, Release 1.2  April 2006  
352KB
UNIX Security Checklist Version 5, Release 1  
Nov 15, 2006
 
936KB
Virtual Machine (VM) Checklist  
April 2006
 
559KB
VMS 6.0 Vulnerability ID to STIG ID Cross Reference  April 2006  
500KB
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Checklist V2R2.2  
May 19, 2006
 
1729KB
Web Server Security Checklist  April 2006  
1579KB
Windows 2000 Security Checklist Version 5, Release 1.7 Updated! (posted Nov 21, 2006  Nov 24, 2006  
1717KB
Windows 2003 Checklist Version 5, Release 1.7 Updated! (posted Nov 21, 2006  Nov 24, 2006  
1,388KB
Windows NT Security Checklist Version 4, Release 1.21  Jul 28, 2006  
995KB
Windows XP Security Checklist Version 5, Release 1.7 Updated! (posted Sep 19, 2006  Nov 24, 2006  
1,442KB
Wireless Security Checklist Version 4, Release 2.1 Just added(posted Sep 07, 2006)  Aug 25, 2006  
412KB
Wireless Blackberry Security Checklist Version 4, Release 2.1 New! (posted Sep 07, 2006)  Aug 25, 2006  
554KB

Kaspersky Labs documents how folks can pay malicious individuals in the Internet underworld a fee to attack their sites.  Alternatively, Internet sites can be held hostage by DDoS attackers, until a ransom payment is made

November 25, 2006 "Saturday Morning Specials"
http://www.viruslist.com/en/weblog?calendar=2006-11

QUOTE: If you are wondering, the cost to DDoS a website can range between $100 and several thousand US Dollars. For www.viruslist.com it would be around $3000 per day.  

Apparently, there are even special discounts for "DDoS multiple sites" packs - "buy two, DDoS the third for free!". They even offer different methods to DDoS a website - for instance, syn flood or heavy traffic. This is because some ISPs charge by traffic, and several hundred GBs of extra traffic can cost the website owner a lot more than the DDoS attack.

Faced with a massive DDoS attack, many companies simply remove their websites from the net until is attack is over. Others pay up the ransom, if there is one. The best thing to do is to work with the ISP and companies specializing in blocking DDoS attacks. Please don't pay the ransom, it only encourages the bad guys to carry on.