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From: InfoSec News (isn_at_c4i.org)
Date: Thu Aug 29 2002 - 02:12:48 CDT

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    ********************
    Windows & .NET Magazine Security UPDATE--brought to you by Security
    Administrator, a print newsletter bringing you practical, how-to
    articles about securing your Windows .NET Server, Windows 2000, and
    Windows NT systems.
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    August 28, 2002--In this issue:

    1. IN FOCUS
         - How Not to Perform a Security Scan

    2. SECURITY RISKS
         - Tiny Personal Firewall 3.0 for Windows
         - Multiple Vulnerabilities in Kerio MailServer 5.0 for Windows
           XP, Win2K, and NT
         - Multiple Vulnerabilities in Microsoft IE
         - DoS in Microsoft Windows SMB
         - Multiple Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Web Components
           ActiveX Control
         - Multiple Vulnerabilities in WebEasyMail
         - Buffer Overrun in Microsoft TSAC ActiveX Control

    3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
         - Why Pay When You Can Get In-Person Security Expertise at No
           Charge?
         - Planning on Getting Certified? Make Sure to Pick Up Our New
           eBook!

    4. SECURITY ROUNDUP
         - Feature: Password Defense
         - Feature: Safe Transit
         - Feature: Windows XP SP1

    5. HOT RELEASE (ADVERTISEMENT)
         - SecureIIS Provides a Solid Brick in Your Defensive Wall

    6. SECURITY TOOLKIT
         - Virus Center
         - FAQ: How Can I Disable Encrypting File System (EFS) on a
           Windows 2000 or Later Machine?

    7. NEW AND IMPROVED
         - Ensure Secure Information Exchange
         - Enable Enterprisewide Configuration Changes
         - Submit Top Product Ideas

    8. HOT THREADS
         - Windows & .NET Magazine Online Forums
             - Featured Thread: Upstream Proxy Authentication
          - HowTo Mailing List:
             - Featured Thread: Win2K Group Policy Error

    9. CONTACT US
       See this section for a list of ways to contact us.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    1. ==== IN FOCUS ====
       (contributed by Mark Joseph Edwards, News Editor,
    markntsecurity.net)

    * HOW NOT TO PERFORM A SECURITY SCAN

    Many network administrators have security toolkits that include
    security scanners and other vulnerability test tools, but not everyone
    understands how to use those tools ethically. Using software packages
    on your network to test for vulnerabilities is one thing, but testing
    somebody else's network for vulnerabilities is an entirely different
    matter.

    It seems obvious that you need permission to scan someone else's
    network or system. The reason is simple: Someone else's network is
    neither your property nor your responsibility. Furthermore, mounting
    an attack on someone's system isn't a wise way to gain notoriety,
    especially for new security consulting firms. However, not everybody
    understands that, and I read about a case in point over the weekend.

    A security company, ForensicTec Solutions, a 4-month-old startup
    company, apparently decided it would impress people with its ability
    to detect vulnerabilities. However, some rookie ForensicTec
    consultants chose to perform such detection on someone else's network.
    To compound that poor judgment, that "someone else" turned out to be
    the US government. According to a report from "The Washington Post,"
    ForensicTec consultants decided to investigate the security of various
    Department of Defense (DoD) networks and computer systems.
       http://www.forensictec.com
       http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24191-2002Aug15.html

    The report said that 2 months ago, while working with a client, the
    ForensicTec consultants detected other networks and IP addresses. They
    investigated those IP addresses and learned that they belonged to
    computers running on DoD networks located in Fort Hood, Texas. Out of
    curiosity, they proceeded to gain access to those military networks,
    then used that access to gain further access to other government
    networks, such as those that the National Aeronautics and Space
    Administration (NASA) operates.

    According to the report, the consultants discovered that they could
    access systems that contained detailed sensitive information,
    sometimes by using common passwords such as "administrator" and
    "password." They found information about "radio encryption techniques,
    the use of laser targeting systems and other field procedures. Another
    [system they accessed] maintained hundreds of personnel records
    containing Social Security numbers, security clearance levels and
    credit card numbers. A NASA computer contained vendor records,
    including company bank account and financial routing numbers." Still
    other systems contained "e-mail messages, confidential disciplinary
    letters and, in one case, a memo naming couriers to carry secret
    documents and their destinations."

    After locating such sensitive information, the company apparently
    waited 2 months before reporting its findings. When it reported its
    findings to the military 2 weeks ago, it also contacted "The
    Washington Post" to report the exploits. The newspaper contacted the
    government to determine whether ForensicTec's information was
    accurate.

    As a result of its actions, ForensicTec found itself the subject of a
    Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) forensic investigation.
    According to another report from "The Washington Post," the FBI raided
    the company's offices over the weekend.
       http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42019-2002Aug20.html

    As you might expect, ForensicTec said it acted as it did to gain some
    exposure for itself and to help the government realize its networks
    were exposed to intruders. A spokesperson for the Army Criminal
    Investigation Command in Virginia said, "Regardless of the stated
    intent, unauthorized entry into Army computer systems is a federal
    offense."

    The moral of this story is at least threefold: Never use easy-to-guess
    passwords; never turn rookie security consultants loose on others'
    networks; and never investigate anyone's network without first
    obtaining explicit permission, preferably in writing, for the
    investigations you might perform.
     
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    2. ==== SECURITY RISKS ====
       (contributed by Ken Pfeil, kenwinnetmag.com)

    * TINY PERSONAL FIREWALL 3.0 FOR WINDOWS
       Aaron Tan Lu of NSSI Research Labs discovered two Denial of Service
    (DoS) conditions in Tiny Software's Tiny Personal Firewall 3.0 for
    Windows. The first vulnerability affects the default installation and
    use of the activity logger tab. If a potential attacker uses multiple
    SYN, UDP, Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), and TCP full
    Connect to scan a host's ports while the vulnerable user browses its
    Personal Firewall Agent module firewall Log tab, a system crash will
    occur that consumes 100 percent of system resources. The second DoS
    condition is similar, but it occurs in the HIGH Security setting when
    an attacker uses a spoofed source to address the firewall's IP
    address.
       http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=26348

    * MULTIPLE VULNERABILITIES IN KERIO MAILSERVER 5.0 for WINDOWS XP,
    WIN2K, and NT
       Abraham Lincoln Hao of NSSI Research Labs discovered multiple
    vulnerabilities in Kerio Technologies' Kerio MailServer 5.0 for
    Windows that could result in a Denial of Service (DoS) or cross-site
    scripting scenario. Sending at least five SYN packets to any of a mail
    server's services (POP3, SMTP, IMAP, Secure IMAP, POP3S, Web-mail, or
    secure Web-mail services) can result in that service not responding;
    however, the service will be available again after several minutes.
    The vendor, Kerio Technologies, has been notified but hasn't yet
    released a patch for these vulnerabilities.
       http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=26353

    * MULTIPLE VULNERABILITIES IN MICROSOFT IE
       GreyMagic Software, Mark Litchfield of Next Generation Security
    Software (NGSSoftware), and Jouko Pynnonen of Oy Online Solutions
    discovered five new vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer
    (IE), the most serious of which lets an attacker execute arbitrary
    code on the vulnerable system. Microsoft has released Security
    Bulletin MS02-047 (Cumulative Patch for Internet Explorer) to address
    these vulnerabilities and recommends that affected users download and
    apply the appropriate patch mentioned in the bulletin.
       http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=26419

    * DoS IN MICROSOFT WINDOWS SMB
       Alberto Solino and Hernan Ochoa of Core Security Technologies
    discovered an unchecked buffer in Microsoft Server Message Block (SMB)
    that can result in a remotely exploitable Denial of Service (DoS)
    condition on the vulnerable system. By sending a specially crafted
    packet to certain transactions of the SMB command SMB_COM_TRANSACTION,
    an attacker can halt the OS with a blue screen. You can find detailed
    information about this vulnerability on the discoverers' Web site.
    Microsoft has released Security Bulletin MS02-045 (Unchecked Buffer in
    Network Share Provider Can Lead to Denial of Service) to address these
    vulnerabilities and recommends that affected users download and apply
    the appropriate patch mentioned in the bulletin.
       http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=26412

    * MULTIPLE VULNERABILITIES IN MICROSOFT OFFICE WEB COMPONENTS ACTIVEX
    CONTROL
       Three vulnerabilities exist in Microsoft Office Web Components 2002
    and Office Web Components 2000 ActiveX control. Products affected by
    these vulnerabilities include Microsoft Internet Security and
    Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Office XP, Project 2002, Project
    Server 2002, and Small Business Server (SBS) 2000. Microsoft has
    released Security Bulletin MS02-044 (Unsafe Functions in Office Web
    Components) to address these vulnerabilities and recommends that
    affected users download and apply the appropriate patch mentioned in
    the bulletin.
       http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=26407

    * MULTIPLE VULNERABILITIES IN WEBEASYMAIL
       Stan Bubrouski discovered two vulnerabilities in WebEasyMail for
    Windows 3.4.2.2 and earlier that can result in a Denial of Service
    (DoS) condition and information disclosure. An attacker can send
    specially crafted format strings as input, such as the "printf" family
    of functions, and cause the service to terminate without an error
    message. The information-disclosure vulnerability lets an attacker
    obtain a valid username and password on the vulnerable system. By
    default, an attacker can make unlimited logon attempts without the
    server terminating the connection. If the attacker gives a wrong
    password, the server responds with "-ERR invalid username" if the user
    doesn't exist and "-ERR wrong password for this user" if the user
    exists. The vendor, WebEasyMail, has been notified but has not yet
    released a patch for this vulnerability.
       http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=26413

    * BUFFER OVERRUN IN MICROSOFT TSAC ACTIVEX CONTROL
       A buffer-overrun condition exists in Microsoft Terminal Services
    Advanced Client (TSAC) ActiveX control that can let an attacker
    execute arbitrary code remotely on the vulnerable system. This
    vulnerability results from an unchecked buffer in the control's code
    that processes one of the input parameters. By calling the control on
    a client system and overrunning the buffer, an attacker can run code
    under the currently logged-on user's security context. The attacker
    can mount an attack by either hosting a Web page that exploits the
    vulnerability against any user who visits the Web page or by sending
    HTML mail to another user. Microsoft has released Security Bulletin
    MS02-046 (Buffer Overrun in TSAC ActiveX Control Could Allow Code
    Execution) to address these vulnerabilities and recommends that
    affected users download and apply the appropriate patch
       http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=26409

    3. ==== ANNOUNCEMENTS ====
       (brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)

    * WHY PAY WHEN YOU CAN GET IN-PERSON SECURITY EXPERTISE AT NO CHARGE?
       Windows & .NET Magazine Network Road Show 2002 is coming this fall
    to New York, Chicago, Denver, and San Francisco! Industry experts
    Mark Minasi and Paul Thurrott will show you how to shore up your
    system's security and what desktop security features are planned for
    Microsoft .NET and beyond. Sponsored by Microsoft and NetIQ.
    Registration is free, but space is limited so sign up now!
       http://list.winnetmag.com/cgi-bin3/flo?y=eNHZ0CJgSH0CBw03lK0AC

    * PLANNING ON GETTING CERTIFIED? MAKE SURE TO PICK UP OUR NEW EBOOK!
       "The Insider's Guide to IT Certification" eBook is hot off the
    presses and contains everything you need to know to help you save time
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    your copy of the Insider's Guide today!
       http://list.winnetmag.com/cgi-bin3/flo?y=eNHZ0CJgSH0CBw038F0AF

    4. ==== SECURITY ROUNDUP ====

    * FEATURE: PASSWORD DEFENSE
       Every user account on your network needs a password, although
    Windows 2000 permits user logons with null passwords. When you decide
    to enforce password use, you need to choose the password policies you
    want to enforce. You can set password policies for a domain or for an
    individual computer. Setting a password for an individual computer is
    useful when you have machines that are in vulnerable locations or that
    hold sensitive data. Unfortunately, Win2K doesn't let you set policies
    on a group-by-group basis, only by domain or machine. Read more about
    password management in Kathy Ivens's article.
       http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=25962

    * FEATURE: SAFE TRANSIT
       When you move a backup of a Microsoft SQL Server database from one
    server to another, you encounter some specific challenges. A common
    problem is that in the restore process, usernames and login names can
    be mismatched. In this article, Kalen Delaney looks at why usernames
    and login names are important, why mismatched names are a problem, and
    how to use a special procedure called sp_sidmap to avoid such
    problems.
       http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=25983

    * FEATURE: WINDOWS XP SP1
       When Windows XP arrived last year, the enterprise was underwhelmed:
    Most new XP features were clearly aimed at consumers, not business
    users, and the benefits the new system offered over Windows 2000 were
    unclear. A year later, XP is more entrenched, however, and a new
    Service Pack 1 (SP1) release will address some enterprise concerns.
    Read Paul Thurrott's article to learn what you need to know about XP
    SP1.
       http://www.secadministrator.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=25972

    5. ==== HOT RELEASE (ADVERTISEMENT) ====

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    6. ==== SECURITY TOOLKIT ====

    * VIRUS CENTER
       Panda Software and the Windows & .NET Magazine Network have teamed
    to bring you the Center for Virus Control. Visit the site often to
    remain informed about the latest threats to your system security.
       http://www.secadministrator.com/panda

    * FAQ: HOW CAN I DISABLE ENCRYPTING FILE SYSTEM (EFS) ON A WINDOWS
    2000 OR LATER MACHINE?
       ( contributed by John Savill, http://www.windows2000faq.com )

    A. To disable EFS, perform the following steps:

       1. Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).
       2. Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
    NT\CurrentVersion\EFS registry subkey.
       3. From the Edit menu, select New, DWORD Value.
       4. Enter a name of EfsConfiguration and press Enter.
       5. Double-click the new value, set it to 1 to disable EFS, then
    click OK.
       6. Close the registry editor.
       7. Reboot the machine.

    This change will affect all users: When users try to encrypt a file,
    they'll receive an error. You can set the registry value to 0 to
    enable EFS, but this value doesn't exist by default.

    7. ==== NEW AND IMPROVED ====
       (contributed by Judy Drennen, productswinnetmag.com)

    * ENSURE SECURE INFORMATION EXCHANGE
       Ingrian Networks announced its next generation of Active
    Application Security solutions for database encryption, user
    authentication, secure Microsoft Outlook Web-based email access,
    intrusion protection, secure caching, and secure load balancing. Four
    new solutions, i225, i220, i215, and i210, were designed to
    proactively ensure secure information exchange. The products are
    designed to be Plug and Play (PnP) and can often be deployed in less
    than 30 minutes with the Ingrian Networks Quick Start Guide. Prices
    start at $23,995 and depend on the solution configuration. Contact
    Ingrian at 650-261-2400 or email marketingingrian.com.
       http://www.ingrian.com

    * ENABLE ENTERPRISEWIDE CONFIGURATION CHANGES
       Configuresoft announced Enterprise Configuration Manager (ECM) 4.0,
    a solution that reduces the IT resources required to proactively
    manage system and security configurations across enterprise networks.
    ECM 4.0 lets central IT departments create customized user roles to
    securely and selectively provide access to ECM's functionality and
    configuration data. Prices start at $995 per server and $30 per
    workstation. ECM 4.0 runs on Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, and
    Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or higher. Contact Configuresoft at
    719-447-4600 or email infoconfiguresoft.com.
       http://www.configuresoft.com

    * SUBMIT TOP PRODUCT IDEAS
       Have you used a product that changed your IT experience by saving
    you time or easing your daily burden? Do you know of a terrific
    product that others should know about? Tell us! We want to write about
    the product in a future What's Hot column. Send your product
    suggestions to whatshotwinnetmag.com.

    8. ==== HOT THREADS ====

    * WINDOWS & .NET MAGAZINE ONLINE FORUMS
       http://www.winnetmag.com/forums

    Featured Thread: Upstream Proxy Authentication
       (One message in this thread)

    Stryder writes that his company has two remote locations, each with a
    Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server with its own
    Internet connection. In office 1, a VPN tunnel links back to the
    parent company for intranet sites the that office needs to access. He
    has set up office 2 to route any request for those intranet sites to
    office 1's ISA Server. Access works well for employees in office 1,
    but office 2 connections involve multiple authentications. The two ISA
    Servers run in a Windows NT 4.0 domain, so he doesn't have to set up
    any trust between the machines. However, he wants to know how to set
    up authentication so that users in office 2 aren't prompted every time
    they access an intranet site. Can you help? Read the responses or lend
    a hand at:
       http://www.winnetmag.com/forums/rd.cfm?cid=42&tid=44814
     
    * HOWTO MAILING LIST
       http://www.secadministrator.com/listserv/page_listserv.asp?s=howto

    Featured Thread: Win2K Group Policy Error
       (One message in this thread)

    Erich has just set up Group Policy on Windows 2000 Server. When he
    logs on to the domain, the policy hasn't been implemented. When he
    checks the Event Viewer, he finds an error message in the Application
    log that reads
       "The Group Policy client-side extension Security was passed flags
    (17) and returned a failure status code of (1332)"
    Can you help? Read the responses or lend a hand at the following URL:
       http://63.88.172.96/listserv/page_listserv.asp?a2=ind0208c&l=howto&p=82

    9. ==== CONTACT US ====
       Here's how to reach us with your comments and questions:

    * ABOUT IN FOCUS -- markntsecurity.net

    * ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER IN GENERAL -- vpattersonwinnetmag.com (please
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    * TECHNICAL QUESTIONS -- http://www.winnetmag.com/forums

    * PRODUCT NEWS -- productswinnetmag.com

    * QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SECURITY UPDATE SUBSCRIPTION? Customer
    Support -- securityupdatewinnetmag.com

    * WANT TO SPONSOR SECURITY UPDATE? emedia_oppswinnetmag.com

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