resource center
  See your link here
|
IDG News Service -
The CERT Coordination Center has received reports of widespread attacks using a recently disclosed security vulnerability and a previously unknown security hole in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system, the center said yesterday in an advisory.
The known vulnerability is in a Windows interface that handles communications using the remote procedure call (RPC) protocol and could enable remote attackers to gain total control over vulnerable systems.
Microsoft disclosed the problem and provided a patch for vulnerable systems in a security bulletin July 16 after it was discovered and reported to the company by a Polish security group called Last Stage of Delirium.
Reports of Internet scans for vulnerable systems and isolated attacks using the Windows flaw surfaced after the publication on the Internet last week of code that could be used to exploit vulnerable systems, prompting warnings from security experts and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about pending attacks (see story).
CERT's advisory cites the existence of multiple exploits on the Internet and reports of "intruders actively scanning for and exploiting" the Microsoft vulnerability.
In the past two days, the computer security research and development organization has received reports of "thousands" of systems compromised using variations of the malicious code, known as DCOM RPC, after the flawed Windows Distributed Component Object Model interface, according to Jeff Havrilla, Internet security analyst at CERT in Pittsburgh.
CERT doesn't know how many machines have been hacked using the DCOM RPC exploit, but the ratio between the number of reports CERT typically receives to the number of machines compromised suggests that the number is large, Havrilla said. In many cases, administrators may not even know their computers have been compromised. That may be by design.
In contrast to previous exploits such as the Code Red and Slammer worms, both of which took advantage of widespread Microsoft security holes, malicious hackers are keeping a low profile with the DCOM RPC vulnerability, Havrilla said. "It's not like Code Red, where the machine that was taken over started to spawn hundreds of processes. These machines are much more stealthy and much more controlled," he said.
Malicious hackers are using DCOM RPC to place Trojan horse programs on compromised systems, giving them control of those systems for use in future attacks, he said. "It's not a worm. It doesn't rise to that level. But it's a controlled, systematic exploitation of vulnerable systems."
Also adding to the volume of attacks is a previously unknown flaw, also in the Windows RPC component but not covered by the recent Microsoft patch, that makes Windows 2000 machines vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks, he said.
That flaw surfaced in recent days, along with code to exploit the vulnerability, and has also been used in attacks on vulnerable systems. Those attacks have caused confusion among Microsoft customers who applied the RPC patch to Windows 2000 systems, fueling speculation that the company's patch didn't work.
In its advisory, CERT recommends that customers apply both the Microsoft patch and block network traffic on TCP Ports 135, 139 and 445, which are used by the RPC service.
IDG.net
Mastering eDiscovery: The IT Manager's Guide to Preservation, Protection & Production
Get this paper now!
Not Just Words: Enforce Your Email and Web Acceptable Usage Policies
Get this paper now!
Effectively Implementing Datacenter Automation
Effectively select and deploy the best datacenter automation solution today!
Email Archiving: A Business-Critical Application
Get this paper now!
Aligning IT to Business: The Rising Importance of Application Delivery Networks
Application Delivery Networking (ADN) will play a vital role in helping enterprises incorporate strategic technologies to achieve business initiatives.
IBM ISS X-Force Threat and Risk Report
Learn about all aspects of threats that affect Internet security.
The New World of eCrime: Targeted Brand Attacks and How to Combat Them
Download This Whitepaper Now!
Mitigate Risk, Lower Costs and Improve Network Efficiency
Create a stable IP network that not only meets today's challenges, but is flexible enough to also meet future demands.
Sign up to receive updates on the latest Security resources
CIO
Computerworld
CSO
DEMO
GamePro
Games.net
IDC
IDG
IDG Connect
IDG Knowledge Hub
IDG TechNetwork
IDG Ventures
IDG.net
InfoWorld
ITwhitepapers
ITworld
JavaWorld
LinuxWorld
Macworld
Network World
PC World
The Industry Standard
Copyright © 1994 - 2009 Computerworld Inc. All
rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium
without express written permission ofComputerworld Inc. is prohibited. Computerworld and Computerworld.com and the respective logos are trademarks of International Data Group Inc. |
