Re: FTP question

[John Earl <johnearl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Richard J. Serrano wrote:
> 
> Agreed: It does take a valid user id & password to log onto the AS/400 
>through FTP.
> BUT, when 86% of theft or misuse of data is attributed to the "authorized 
>user" with a valid
> user id & password, they are more of a security threat than anyone cares to 
>admit.
> 
> Disagree: Appropriate object authority to the file(s) being accessed is 
>needed.
> Using FTP, an authorized user has unabated access to ALL objects on the 
>AS/400. Try it.

This is nonsense.   Object authority reigns supreme on the AS/400, you
just have to understand how it works.  A user must have authority to
an object (either directly or indirectly) or must have one of the
relevant special authorities in order to have access to AS/400
objects.  FTP cannot magically bypass OS/400 object authority.

> Set up a test profile, with a valid user id & password, but grant NO 
>authority to anything on
> the 400.
> Then, use FTP through DOS, as outlined, and see what happens... Access to the 
>whole enchilada...

Wouldn't this new user be a member of *PUBLIC?  Does *PUBLIC have
authority to the whole enchilada?  

Here is a simple test.  Create a user called DUMMY and grant DUMMY
*EXCLUDE authority to file SECRET.  When the DUMMY attempts to access
the SECRET file (whether by FTP or any other means) the system will
generate an authority failure.  However, if *PUBLIC has at least read
authority to the file, every other system user will be able to see the
SECRET that the DUMMY can't.  This is object authority at work.


jte


--
John Earl                                          
johnearl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The PowerTech Group                        206-575-0711
PowerLock Network Security              www.400security.com
The 400 School                                www.400school.com
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