04
Mon, Nov
5 New Articles

Security Warnings Continue to Plague Microsoft Products

Commentary
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times
Last February, Microsoft unveiled a new project to strengthen security within its vast software holdings, but the effort is getting mixed reviews from security analysts as holes continue to surface in the various offerings. These latest vulnerabilities are appearing in Microsoft's SQL Server and in its Internet Explorer browser software.

SQL-Snake

Most recently, on May 21, 2002, security analysts became aware of SQL-Snake, a self-propagating worm that targets Microsoft's SQL Server software. SQL-Snake exploits a known security hole in SQL Servers when server accounts aren't properly protected. Once inside, the worm looks for administrative accounts that have no passwords and then transfers administrative privileges to the guest account. It then grabs the password files from the registry and mails them to an email account. Then it scans for new systems to infect.

Analysts became aware of the worm when they spotted a large increase in scanning activity on the server port used by Microsoft SQL Server. Infection of new systems was progressing at a rate of about 100 per hour.

SQL Servers that are misconfigured with no administrative passwords are an easy target for the worm, and this problem is fairly widespread. The solution is, obviously, to require administrative passwords on SQL Servers, but it's clear that there will be substantial damage before administrators find time to lock down their systems. Why Microsoft has failed to implement this simple requirement still baffles the analysts.

Users can mitigate their exposure by blocking Internet access to port T1433. It's also important to ensure that the administrator account has a password and to disable TCP/IP Network Libraries if they are not being used. Also, analysts recommend that IT review the configuration and installation of all systems that may be inadvertently running SQL Server and disable any unnecessary deployment.

At this time, there is no word as to how to disinfect an SQL Server once it's been infected. But this is just the latest problem in Microsoft's battle to strengthen the overall security of its systems.

Internet Explorer Patch Ineffective

Security analysts are also concerned that the recent patch to Internet Explorer doesn't fix the holes that it claims to have addressed. A little more than two weeks ago, Microsoft released a security patch for Internet Explorer (IE) Versions 5.01 through 6.0 and the Outlook email client that was designed to fix privacy flaws and to plug holes in cross-site scripting.

Unfortunately, according to some researchers, the patch only solved the cross-site scripting problem in one of the listed browsers. It also failed to even address secondary vulnerabilities completely, according to some analysts.

Microsoft claims that the security flaw can be exploited only if a user clicks on an HTML link on a Web page or in an email message. But analysts claim that this assessment is not accurate and that code embedded in the HTML file can automatically execute malicious code when a user simply opens an infected email message. According to these analysts, the patch doesn't address the vulnerability because it resides in the dialogArguments component of IE, a component that was not re-worked in Microsoft's patch.

Furthermore, even though Microsoft says that the problem only exists in IE Version 6.0, some analysts insist that the same problem is in IE 5.01 and 5.5. Finally, researchers say that the remedy for a second vulnerability--a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to read documents on a PC remotely--was also missing from the most recent patch.

Flawed Software and Flawed Patches

The issue of flawed patches--including the one Microsoft provided last February that caused browsers to crash--continues to raise doubts about Microsoft's ability to address its security problems. Patching patches can be an expensive waste of IT resources as administrators attempt to roll out security updates in the field. This issue may be one of the causes of complaints that Gartner Group has about the seeming indifference of IT to implement security upgrades and updates.

According to Gartner, the majority of attacks on computer systems exploit well-known security weaknesses, weaknesses for which patches exist. Gartner claims that the most recent attacks by hackers, worms, and viruses might have been avoided if organizations had merely taken the time to implement those patches that currently exist.

For instance, patches were available to protect systems against the Code Red virus, but the majority of IT installations simply did not implement them. As a result, the Nimda virus exploited the very same security hole a few months later, causing still further chaos around the globe.

Billions Spent to Plug Security Holes and Repair Systems

Gartner estimated that the cost of repairing systems after these two incidents is currently exceeding billions of dollars in lost productivity and reconfiguration by IT. Gartner further estimates that through 2005, 90 percent of these cyber attacks will merely exploit the security flaws for which patches are readily available or for which some preventative measure is already well known. Gartner analysts also believe that the costs for fixing the damaged systems will be 50 percent larger than the cost of initial prevention.

However, if security analysts' claims about the failures of Microsoft security patches prove accurate, it becomes increasingly understandable why some IT organizations view with a jaundiced eye the problem of patching Microsoft's code.

If the security of the initial product is flawed from the date of release--and if the patches to those flaws are equally suspect--IT shops often choose to take a wait-and-see attitude to determine the real vulnerability of the overall system. Though this tactic is expensive, the consequences of repairing damaged systems may be less time-consuming than updating systems with every patch that is released, particularly when those patches may or may not actually work. And when the software patches themselves create problems, as happened last February with the IE patch, the very act of fixing flawed software begins to have dire consequences to user productivity.

Microsoft's View

For Microsoft's part, it promises to review the recent reports that its IE software patch is flawed. According to Craig Mundie, Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, Advanced Strategies and Policy at Microsoft, "A lot of work has to be done before we reach a place where people inherently trust their computing systems. We are doing everything we can right now to address current problems and to change the fundamental way in which we develop software to make it as private and secure as possible. But that isn't the whole solution, and Microsoft can't do it alone. It is crucial that we work together as an industry to address this issue. We are not going to solve it overnight, but through collaborative work and a long-term commitment, we will move toward the right solutions."

If the current quality control of security patches is any indication of Microsoft's level of success, then we are a long way indeed from finding a solution.

Thomas M. Stockwell is the Editor in Chief of MC Press, LLC. He has written extensively about program development, project management, IT management, and IT consulting and has been a frequent contributor to many midrange periodicals. He has authored numerous white papers for iSeries solutions providers. His most recent consulting assignments have been as a Senior Industry Analyst working with IBM on the iSeries, on the mid-market, and specifically on WebSphere brand positioning. He welcomes your comments about this or other articles and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thomas Stockwell

Thomas M. Stockwell is an independent IT analyst and writer. He is the former Editor in Chief of MC Press Online and Midrange Computing magazine and has over 20 years of experience as a programmer, systems engineer, IT director, industry analyst, author, speaker, consultant, and editor.  

 

Tom works from his home in the Napa Valley in California. He can be reached at ITincendiary.com.

 

 

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: