HNS Newsletter Issue 166 - 16.06.2003. http://net-security.org This is a newsletter delivered to you by Help Net Security. It covers weekly roundups of security events that were in the news the past week. Visit Help Net Security for the latest security news - http://net-security.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Need to Secure Multiple Domain or Host Names? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Securing multiple domain or host names need not burden you with unwanted administrative hassles. Learn more about how the cost-effective Thawte Starter PKI program can streamline management of your digital certificates. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Click here to download our Free guide: http://gothawte.com/rd746.html ---------------------------------------------------------------- Table of contents: 1) Security news 2) Vulnerabilities 3) Advisories 4) Articles 5) Reviews 6) Security world 7 Virus news [ Security news ] ---------------------------------------------------------------- WHY SCHOOLS SHOULD TEACH VIRUS WRITING Many antivirus companies oppose new courses on virus writing. But Robert thinks it's a great way to develop better virus prevention--and nudge would-be hackers toward a productive future. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2831 WIRELESS AUTHENTICATION, ROUTING, TRAFFIC CONTROL AND ACCOUNTING This document exists to detail one solution to those looking to deploy authentication-based, for-profit, tiered network services over any Ethernet-based medium that utilizes industry standard protocols to tie in with existing OSS resources. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2832 COMPUTER HACKERS GATHER IN PITTSBURGH The 29-year-old tavern owner from Berlin, Germany, is leading SummerCon, a gathering of roughly 200 hackers in Pittsburgh that began Friday and runs through Sunday. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2833 FEAR DRIVES IRRATIONAL SECURITY DECISIONS It was bad enough that, before 2001, security companies that had products and services to sell generated most of the fear of being hacked on the Internet. But after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, things got wonky. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2834 GIBRALTAR PATCHES SOLARIS SERVERS Gibraltar Software introduced an appliance that remotely patches Solaris servers. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2835 OVERCOMING "SECURITY BY GOOD INTENTIONS" Last week Microsoft announced plans to revise the process it uses to provide patches that fix problems with its software. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2840 ADDING SECURITY TO THE CERT Shiftless third-party prep courses have made MCSE certification less valuable. Is Microsoft's new security cert doomed to the same fate? http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2841 CIA SPIES SHUN COMPUTERS In the movies, spies and intelligence agents are the ones with the cool gadgets and state-of-the-art equipment, but their real life counterparts are far behind. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2842 THE TWO FACES OF FOUNDSTONE: SOFTWARE PIRACY PROBLEMS A leading computer-security company is accused of software piracy. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2843 GARTNER: PESCATORE COMMENTS ON STATE OF ENTERPRISE SECURITY Formerly with the National Security Agency and Secret Service, Gartner Inc. vice president John Pescatore has the perspective and experience to comment on just about everything related to IT security. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2844 IT EXECS SHARE SECURITY CONCERNS Insider threats from employees and trading partners, interconnected networks with no clear boundaries, and the potential for terrorist cyberattacks against corporate networks are among the top worries for technology managers. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2845 POLICE TO SIGN UP IT SPECIAL CONSTABLES IN WAR ON HACKERS Home Office plans on cybercrime strategy will pool expertise from police, government and business. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2846 THE ENEMY WITHIN: FIREWALLS AND BACKDOORS This article presents an overview of modern backdoor techniques, discusses how they can be used to bypass network firewalls. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2847 PGP ENCRYPTION PROVES POWERFUL If the police and FBI can't crack the code, is the technology too strong? http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2849 AOL SPAM FILTERS GO AWRY America Online has been blocking an undisclosed number of Comcast subscriber e-mails since late last week and is in the process of resolving the problem. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2850 HACKERS DEVELOP TOOLS TO THWART FORENSICS Anti-forensics tools and skills to thwart investigators are emerging in the underground hacker scene. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2851 TAKING THE THREAT OUT OF IP VOICE Once corporate users have tested voice over IP and proven that it works, they face one last hurdle: making sure it's secure. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2852 RETAILERS BACK ONLINE SECURITY SCHEME Good news for e-commerce as 4,000 European retailers join Verified by Visa initiative. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2853 INDUSTRIAL SECURITY GETS A LINUX LOCK Control-system specialist Verano has introduced a service and software package to help companies protect their critical infrastructure from digital attacks. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2854 WI-FI IS BOOST, NOT BANE, TO SECURE NETWORKS - INTEL High-speed wireless computer networks, or Wi-Fi, are notoriously vulnerable to unauthorized intrusion, but that may actually help to sell companies on the need to embrace the technology. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2855 FEDS WARN BANKS ABOUT INTERNET ATTACK The government is warning financial institutions about a virus-like infection that has targeted computers at roughly 1,200 banks worldwide, trying to steal corporate passwords. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2856 MICROSOFT TO FIGHT VIRUS WRITERS HEAD ON Microsoft is develop ing its own anti-virus software to combat the malicious programs plaguing users. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2857 REALITY CHECK: HOW SAFE IS LINUX? Many of the programs included in Linux distros have programming errors that lead to things like privilege escalation, whereby a common user tricks a program into thinking it has more privileges than it does, says Guardian Digital CEO Dave Wreski. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2858 HACKER ARRESTED IN INDIAN CREDIT CARD SCAM An Indian computer engineer has been arrested for hacking into computers belonging to foreign banks and using their databases to operate a credit card scam, police said yesterday. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2859 CIA: AGENCY'S HIGH-TECH SKILLS EXAGGERATED The Central Intelligence Agency is so afraid of losing sensitive information to hackers that its analysts work on outdated and poorly integrated computers, according to a newly declassified report. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2861 NEW WPA WIRELESS SECURITY COMING SOON Virtually no one has a kind word to say about WEP, the standard for securing data transmissions on Wi-Fi networks. WEP, which relies on cryptography that can be cracked with a half-hour of laptop time, isn't well-defended, but until recently it's all Wi-Fi fans had. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2862 STORAGE AND SECURITY: HOW REAL IS THE THREAT? Partially at the behest of a reader, we take a look at the storage-security nexus. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2865 TURNING THE SEGA DREAMCAST INTO A LINUX FIREWALL/ROUTER This highly detailed 101-page how-to article provides the necessary background and procedures to turn a SEGA Dreamcast gaming console into a Linux-based software router with firewalling and virtual private networking capabilities. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2866 STUDENT HACKS SCHOOL, ERASES CLASS FILES Highlighting the vulnerability of most computer networks, a 17-year-old student taking a networking course was arrested for hacking into his school's computers and erasing folders belonging to the junior class, New York State Police said Tuesday. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2867 PROBLEM SOLVER: GETTING VPN TO WORK THROUGH NAT FIREWALLS With the rising popularity of telecommuting and the increasing need to protect their electronic assets, companies large and small have been turning to Virtual Private Networking (VPN). http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2868 MEDIA BIG HITTERS SLAM DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SECURITY A lack of secure standards for distributing digital content is threatening to hold back the development of the media, software and consumer technology industries. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2869 FTC: BLAME FOREIGNERS FOR SPAM The U.S. Federal Trade Commission wants broader powers to crack down on foreign e-mail fraud. The worst varieties of spam are increasingly coming from overseas, it says. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2870 EFFECTS OF WORMS ON INTERNET ROUTING STABILITY This article discusses the impact of worms on Internet endpoints and infrastructure, as well as their impact on global routing instability throughout the Internet. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2871 MAGAZINE, UNIVERSITY DRAW IRE OF ANTIVIRUS INDUSTRY First the University of Calgary announced plans to offer a class in writing computer viruses and other destructive programs. Then Wired magazine published the code of a virus-like program that caused mass havoc on the Internet this year. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2872 REAL-TIME ALERTING WITH SNORT, PART 1 OF 3 Snort is built to perform one task and perform it very well. It does a magnificent job of detecting intrusions. Anything beyond intrusion detection is left up to you to handle. One capability you should add is real-time alerting. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2873 TURNING THE NETWORK INSIDE OUT We challenged networking and firewall vendors to design an enterprise that's secure from the perimeter to the core. Their responses give us a glimpse into the future of network security. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2874 SPAM 'MORE OF A MENACE THAN HACKERS' Viruses are the number one fear of computer users, but concern over the growing problem of junk email is increasing. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2875 INTERVIEW: CAN OUTSOURCING AID SECURITY? Stijn Bijnens, chief executive at security specialist Ubizen, explains the latest advances and the case for outsourcing. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2876 HONEYPOTS: ARE THEY ILLEGAL? Honeypots are a new and emerging technology for the security community. The purpose of this paper is to address the most commonly asked issues. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2877 GIVE STATES THE RIGHT TO PROTECT PRIVACY Congress should let them pass their own laws regulating the sharing of financial data - and thus strengthen the credit system. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2878 DEFENDING YOUR DNS: BEST PRACTICES FOR RELIABLE DNS AND DHCP Well-publicized attacks against DNS root servers and top-level domains highlight the vulnerability of the DNS infrastructure. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2879 PRIVACY AND ANONYMITY IN E-MAIL As convenient as email is, it leaves much to be desired in terms of protecting the privacy of messages. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2880 CALIFORNIA MAN TO PLEAD GUILTY IN AL-JAZEERA HACKS A 24-year-old California man will appear in court on Monday to answer charges that he hijacked the Internet domain of Arabic news service Al-Jazeera in March. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2881 SHARE VULNERABILITIES OR NOT? First the University of Calgary announced plans to offer a class in writing computer viruses and other destructive programs. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2882 DO NO HARM: HIPAA'S ROLE IN PREVENTING ID THEFT With the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy deadline recently passed, most health care providers and plan companies are preparing to implement the final rule for security. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2883 BUSINESS SECURITY DEPENDS ON PEOPLE Patents and copyrights aren’t enough to safeguard a company’s treasures, according to Curtis Coleman. The director of worldwide electronic security for Seagate Technology touts the need for an increasing holistic view of corporate security in a competitive world. http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=2884 SECURITY EFFORTS FOR DATA IN MOTION SHOULD BE PUT TO REST Everybody knows that it is easier to hit a stationary target than a fast-moving target. Yet, an enormous amount of resources are being used to encrypt data in motion, while any smart hacker can tell you that data at rest is that much easier to decode and transmit to a second location. http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=507 ---------------------------------------------------------------- [ Vulnerabilities ] All vulnerabilities are located here: http://www.net-security.org/archive_vuln.php ---------------------------------------------------------------- ike-scan Local Root Format String Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2759 Progress _dbagent -installdir dlopen() Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2758 Progress PATH based dlopen() issue Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2757 Post-Nuke Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2756 Sphera Hosting Director Control Panel Multiple Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2754 NucaWeb Server Directory Traversal Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2753 HP-UX Multiple Security Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2752 Nokia GGSN Denial of Service Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2751 Spyke PHP Board Multiple Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2750 Etherleak Information Leak in Windows Server 2003 Drivers http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2749 FTP Voyager File List Buffer Overflow Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2748 SmartFTP Multiple Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2747 LeapFTP "PASV" Reply Buffer Overflow Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2746 FlashFXP Multiple Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2745 Cross Platform Browser Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2744 Internet Explorer URL Spoofing Threat http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2743 SPChat 2.0 for PHP-Nuke and SPChat 0.8.0 Multiple Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2742 Son hServer v0.2 Directory Traversal Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2741 Philboard Forum Administration Bypass Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2740 ICQLite Executable Trojaning http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2739 URLScan Detection Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2738 ImageFolio Versions admin.cgi Directory Traversal and Arbitrary File Deletion Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2737 MERCUR Mail Server v.4.2 Multiple Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2736 Max Web Portal Multiple Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2735 Speak Freely Multiple Remote and Local Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/vuln.php?id=2734 ---------------------------------------------------------------- [ Advisories ] All advisories are located at: http://www.net-security.org/archive_advi.php ---------------------------------------------------------------- Debian Security Advisory - New webmin packages fix remote session ID spoofing http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2121 Debian Security Advisory - New lyskom-server packages fix denial of service http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2120 SuSE Security Announcement - radiusd-cistron http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2119 Apple Security Advisory - Apache 2.0 and dsimportexport Security Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2118 Mandrake Linux Security Update Advisory - kernel http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2117 Debian Security Advisory - New cupsys packages fix denial of service http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2116 Debian Security Advisory - New slashem packages fix buffer overflow http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2115 Debian Security Advisory - New nethack packages fix buffer overflow, incorrect permissions http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2114 Debian Security Advisory - New gnocatan packages fix buffer overflows, denial of service http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2113 Debian Security Advisory - New atftp packages fix buffer overflow http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2112 Debian Security Advisory - New ethereal packages fix buffer overflows, integer overflows http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2111 Debian Security Advisory - New eterm packages fix error introduced in DSA-309-1 http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2110 Immunix Secured OS Security Advisory - tetex, psutils, w3c-libwww http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2109 Mandrake Linux Security Update Advisory - ghostscript http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2108 SGI Security Advisory - Imperfect Broadcast Address Checking http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2107 SGI Security Advisory - Potential Denial of Service using PIOCSWATCH ioctl http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2106 OpenPKG Security Advisory - gzip http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2105 SGI Security Advisory - WebSetup / WebMin Security Vulnerability http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2104 Debian Security Advisory - New powerpc kernel fixes several vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2103 Apple Security Update - Apple File Service Arbitrary Files Overwriting and Directory Services Clear Text Password Potential Vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2102 Debian Security Advisory - New xaos packages fix improper setuid-root execution http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2101 Debian Security Advisory - New kernel packages fix several vulnerabilities http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2100 Gentoo Linux Security Announcement - aftp http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2099 Gentoo Linux Security Announcement - mod_php php http://www.net-security.org/advisory.php?id=2098 ---------------------------------------------------------------- [ Featured articles ] All articles are located at: http://www.net-security.org/articles_main.php Articles can be contributed to staff@net-security.org ---------------------------------------------------------------- UNIX SECURITY: THE FORMMAIL HACK Is your Web server being used as a Spam Mail relay? It could be, and it doesn't even need a daemon listening on the SMTP port. How's it done, and how do you prevent your system from becoming a target? http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=503 TRUSTIX SECURE LINUX 2.0 BETA 3 RELEASED Trustix team announced that Trustix Secure Linux 2.0 beta 3 (aka Lightning) is available for download. As this is a beta release, it is not intended for usage on production servers, but rather for testing it and sending your feedback to Trustix. http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=504 TEACHING HOW TO CREATE MALICIOUS CODE In universities around the world, a question has arisen about computer studies syllabuses: should students be taught how to create viruses and malicious code? http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=505 INTRUSION DETECTION This paper discusses what is an intrusion detection system, the models and the main techniques. http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=506 SECURITY EFFORTS FOR DATA IN MOTION SHOULD BE PUT TO REST Everybody knows that it is easier to hit a stationary target than a fast-moving target. Yet, an enormous amount of resources are being used to encrypt data in motion, while any smart hacker (in its negative context of somebody trying to obtain data not intended for them) can tell you that data at rest is that much easier to decode and transmit to a second location. http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=507 ---------------------------------------------------------------- [ Reviews ] All reviews are located at: http://www.net-security.org/reviews.php ---------------------------------------------------------------- SONICWALL PRO SonicWALL's line of firewalling appliances are recommended for small- to medium-sized networks in various environments. Michael Oliveri, as a user of a SonicWALL product for the past four years, shares his experiences. http://www.net-security.org/review.php?id=75 ORACLE PERFORMANCE TUNING Writing a good Oracle performance tuning book involves a lot of time and effort. To us, as readers, this book will offer a good fundamental knowledge and serve as a good lead to further expand our Oracle performance tuning knowledge. http://www.net-security.org/review.php?id=76 SPECIAL EDITION USING WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL In the information era, the number of improvements in operating systems grows rapidly. Fighting with our time, working all day, we spend hours and hours learning to cope with new technologies and the need for information and the need for books. Differencing quality from quantity, I present you this beginner's complete reference for the newest end user Microsoft operating system. http://www.net-security.org/review.php?id=77 ---------------------------------------------------------------- [ Security world ] All press releases are located at: http://www.net-security.org/press_main.php ---------------------------------------------------------------- Central Command Offers Existing RAV Antivirus Customers A Twenty Five Percent Discount To Upgrade To Vexira Antivirus Solutions http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1470 Ibas and HP Join Forces - Leading the Way in Reliable Erasing of Sensitive Data http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1469 Finnish Parliament switches to F-Secure Anti-Virus http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1468 Trend Micro Only Vendor To Earn Certification For Antivirus Products From National Information Assurance Partnership http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1467 80% of Network Attacks Avoidable with Intrusion Prevention Technology, Reveals Study of Interxion's Network http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1466 GeCAD’s Antivirus Technology to be Acquired by Microsoft http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1465 Panda Software Welcomes Microsoft Initiatives For Improved Computer Security http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1464 Rosco Lowers Total Cost Of Ownership For Smart Card Issuers http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1463 Trapeze Networks Raises $34 Million in Up Round http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1462 Indicii Salus Backs eSecurity for Britain http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1461 Network Associates' McAfee SpamKiller Dominates Consumer Anti-Spam Space with Over 90% Retail Market Share http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1460 IBM ISV Trustix Strengthens UK Team http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1459 Online Credit Card Transactions Go Mobile http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1458 Neoteris Adds NetIQ to Leading Technology Partnership Base http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1457 SSH Certifier to Provide Secgo with a Flexible, Scalable Authentication Platform for Using and Managing Digital Certificates http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1456 F-Secure Delivers Information Security to Alma Media http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1455 Bugbear.B on the Increase Again as Businesses Return to Work http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1454 ActivCard Announces Commencement of Follow-on Exchange Offer http://www.net-security.org/press.php?id=1453 ---------------------------------------------------------------- [ Virus News ] All virus news are located at: http://www.net-security.org/viruses.php ---------------------------------------------------------------- Panda Spots a New Damaging Worm "Trile" http://www.net-security.org/virus_news.php?id=255 Weekly Virus Report - Mapson, Lentin.R and Naco.F Worms http://www.net-security.org/virus_news.php?id=254 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Questions, contributions, comments or ideas go to: Help Net Security staff staff@net-security.org http://net-security.org ---------------------- Subscribe to this weekly digest on: http://www.net-security.org/subscribe.php Unsubscribe by sending the e-mail address you are subscribed with to: info@net-security.org with UNSUBSCRIBE in the message body. The archive of the newsletter in TXT and PDF format is available http://www.net-security.org/newsletter_archive.php ---------------------------------------------------------------- Need to Secure Multiple Domain or Host Names? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Securing multiple domain or host names need not burden you with unwanted administrative hassles. Learn more about how the cost-effective Thawte Starter PKI program can streamline management of your digital certificates. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Click here to download our Free guide: http://gothawte.com/rd746.html ----------------------------------------------------------------