full-disclosure - Re: Microsoft Security, baby steps ?

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Message-ID: <9B66BBD37D5DD411B8CE00508B69700F05ADDE45@pborolocal.rnib.org.uk>
From: John.Airey at rnib.org.uk (John.Airey@...b.org.uk)
Subject: Re: Microsoft Security, baby steps ?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Geo. [mailto:geoincidents@...info.org]
> Sent: Wednesday, 17 March 2004 18:26
> To: John.Airey@...b.org.uk; full-disclosure@...ts.netsys.com
> Subject: RE: [Full-Disclosure] Re: Microsoft Security, baby steps ?
> 
> 
> >>
> From experience, you can't just lock down to that one server. 
> You need to
> allow port 80 and 443 access to different servers. Each day 
> the list of
> servers changes because of the Akamai caching that is used. I 
> spend some
> time configuring locked down systems to be able to talk to 
> them. So yes, it
> is an unreasonable request.
> <<
> 
> Actually you can, you simply enable IP Filtering. Since it blocks only
> inbound connections you can then go out and do the 
> windowsupdate dance.
> Works on both W2K and XP.
> 
> The problem comes in when the rules wherever you are say that 
> you must be
> fully patched to get access to the internet or secure network.
> 
> Geo.
> 

In some cases this isn't enough. Let's say that the machine in question is a
public web server. It doesn't need to initiate connections bar those
necessary to keep it patched. In fact, set up this way it would be unable to
spread any worm to any other machine outside your organisation. Also, anyone
who compromises it will find it a rather dull experience. Sure, you can
trash all the files you find, but that's about it.

My point was that it's extremely difficult to lock down the connections with
Windows Update in these cases.

- 
John Airey, BSc (Jt Hons), CNA, RHCE
Internet systems support officer, ITCSD, Royal National Institute of the
Blind,
Bakewell Road, Peterborough PE2 6XU,
Tel.: +44 (0) 1733 375299 Fax: +44 (0) 1733 370848 John.Airey@...b.org.uk 

Shameless movie plug - go see the Passion of the Christ!

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