RE: iSeries FTP security

You're a glass is half empty kind of person aren't you?  :-)
I would think that their marketing team would be able to pound their chest 
in pride and say they have it fixed, unlike what they've heard about some 
of their competition.

Rob Berendt
-- 
Group Dekko Services, LLC
Dept 01.073
PO Box 2000
Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com





"Kurt Goolsbee" <kurt.goolsbee@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
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05/17/2005 07:15 PM
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Subject
RE: iSeries FTP security






What about the software packages that he listed that DO NOT have this
problem - was it a service to them?  I'm not sure the product marketing 
and
support folks that had their time wasted by customers wanting fixes for a
non-existent problem would agree.

Kurt

> -----Original Message-----
> From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:midrange-l-
> bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of rob@xxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 4:44 PM
> To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
> Subject: RE: iSeries FTP security
> 
> Scott,
> 
> I think we need to compromise between "any valid, authenticated user" 
and
> it's only a security issue if it's a Windows specific issue like a 
buffer
> overflow.
> 
> I still think, in this case, he provided a service and I appreciate the
> heads up.
> 
> Rob Berendt
> --
> Group Dekko Services, LLC
> Dept 01.073
> PO Box 2000
> Dock 108
> 6928N 400E
> Kendallville, IN 46755
> http://www.dekko.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> "Ingvaldson, Scott" <SIngvaldson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> 05/17/2005 08:33 AM
> Please respond to
> Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> 
> To
> <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> cc
> 
> Subject
> RE: iSeries FTP security
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Of course that would be a serious vulnerability.  But who among us does
> not already know this and should it really be considered an "exploit?"
> As to the second question, you don't need to write a program to secure
> FTP, you can just turn it off.
> 
> The disservice that Mr. Carmel is doing is not in the area of educating
> users on iSeries security, it is in the misposting of these
> "vulnerabilities" in places like Bugtraq and suggesting that these are
> weaknesses inherent in the iSeries.  Maybe I'm off base here, but in my
> mind a true exploit reads something like this: "Attackers can exploit a
> buffer overflow in the login to gain root access..."
> 
> Certainly we can all pay more attention to security and most likely
> every one of us has multiple back doors and unauthorized access points
> on our systems that could be locked down a little tighter.  Should
> something like this really be considered a serious vulnerability: "A
> valid, authenticated user can access and retrieve all of the files that
> he has authority to..."  Or is that how it's supposed to work?
> 
> Should someone post to Bugtraq the fact that many newer iSeries models
> have a port in the back that accepts a standard ethernet cable and will
> allow any "valid, authenticated user" to download all of "the files that
> he has authority to?"  If you unplug your ethernet lines your system
> will be much more secure (and much more useless.)
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Scott Ingvaldson
> iSeries System Administrator
> GuideOne Insurance Group
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> date: Mon, 16 May 2005 15:38:01 -0600 (MDT)
> from: James Rich <james@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> subject: RE: iSeries FTP security
> 
> On Mon, 16 May 2005, Ingvaldson, Scott wrote:
> 
> > I'll certainly agree that many, if not most, shops do not pay enough
> > attention to security.  What I disagree with is that this particular
> > "exploit" is as serious as is implied, based on the requirement of a
> > valid, authenticated user to perform it.  That's like saying that
> > leaving your QSECOFR password set to default and having a direct
> > internet connection is a "serious vulnerability."
> 
> Doing so *does* constitute a serious vulnerability.
> 
> > Certainly, Rob, a sufficiently knowledgeable and talented user could
> use
> > FTP to go after
> >
> /qsys.lib/mylib.lib/myfile.file/mymbr.mbr/../../payroll.file/payroll.mbr
> > and download the payroll file, but should this user have FTP access to
> > this system at all?  Is this really an "exploit" or, to coin a phrase
> > "Working As Designed?"  How difficult is it to write an Exit Point
> > Program to restrict all FTP access to authorized FTP users only?
> 
> So to adequately secure an iSeries I have to write a program?
> 
> Exploits can take advantage of coding flaws, configuration flaws, and
> design flaws.  That something is working as designed does not in and of
> itself mean that it not an exploit.  Look no further than ActiveX for
> proof of that.
> 
> 
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