Re: server security

["Elazar Broad" <elazar () hushmail com>]

+1

The less an attacker knows about your infrastructure the better, as long as you are not solely relying on that 
obscurity to protect said infrastructure. Consider this: the more an attacker has to poke around because your aren't 
running certain services on their default port, or say disabling client scripting on your .NET Regex validator so that 
the validation expression isn't exposed in the page, the more noise said attacker is going to make while performing 
reconnaissance, and the better the chance that they will be detected by any detective controls that are in place.

My .0002

elazar

On Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 3:26 PM, Thor (Hammer of God) <thor () hammerofgod com> wrote:
> I completely agree with Gage.  The way I see it, security through 
> obscurity is perfectly valid as long as the control remains 
> obscured.  I think the "anyone can just scan your ports" is 
> somewhat specious in that most (if not something like 99% or so 
> (unqualified opinion of course)) traffic is simply noise and scans 
> for standard ports.  This is particularly true when it matters 
> most: during a worm outbreak or a newly published vulnerability.  
> Attackers simply don't have the time nor the inclination to go 
> through and perform slow and loud scans when they can quickly move 
> on to the next target.  If 90% of the targets have services on the 
> default ports, then it makes far more sense to just go after the 
> easily targets.  
>
> Perfect case-in-point is the recent RDP unpleasantness.   Non-
> standard port deployments were automatically removed from the 
> target scans for 3389.  I don't see how any can argue against the 
> security value of such a configuration.
>
> t  
>
>
>
> Timothy "Thor"  Mullen
> www.hammerofgod.com
> Thor's Microsoft Security Bible
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: full-disclosure-bounces () lists grok org uk [mailto:full-
> disclosure-bounces () lists grok org uk] On Behalf Of Gage Bystrom
> Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2012 9:25 AM
> To: full-disclosure () lists grok org uk
> Subject: Re: [Full-disclosure] server security
>
> Well thats a bit of an iffy one. I'd say it IS a security measure, 
> albeit one that is solely effective if and only if compounded with 
> other measures.
>
> It's unlikely, but you never know, you just might miss out on a 
> nasty worm all because you werent running on a  default port one 
> day.
>
> On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 8:52 AM, Rob <synja () synfulvisions com> 
> wrote:
> > We need to make a distinction between security and obscurity 
> here. The only time changing ports actually hardens a service in 
> any way is when the port requires elevated rights to bind, 
> changing to 1025 for example removes the root requirement. Any 
> actual or theoretical vulnerabilities still exist. If somebody is 
> looking at your server, they'll find the port without much 
> trouble. Alternate ports can remove junk traffic from logs, so 
> there is a benefit, if not entirely a security one.
> > Rob
> >
> >
> > Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Alex Dolan <dolan.alex () gmail com>
> > Sender: listbounce () securityfocus com
> > Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 07:44:57
> > To: Littlefield, Tyler<tyler () tysdomain com>
> > Cc: <security-basics () securityfocus com>
> > Subject: Re: server security
> >
> > One tip I have is to set SSH to a port other than 22, I don't 
> need to 
> > tell anyone how devastating it is if someone did actually get 
> access 
> > to that service. Putting it on some other port reduces your risk
> >
> > On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 1:27 AM, Littlefield, Tyler 
> <tyler () tysdomain com> wrote:
> > > Hello:
> > > I have a couple questions. First, I'll explain what I did:
> > > I set up iptables and removed all unwanted services. Iptables 
> blocks 
> > > everything, then only opens what it wants. I also use the 
> addrtype 
> > > module to limit broadcast and unspec addresses, etc. I also do 
> some 
> > > malformed packet work where I just drop everything that looks 
> > > malformed (mainly by the flags).
> > > 2) I secured ssh: blocked root logins, set it up so only users 
> in the 
> > > sshusers group can connect, and set it only to allow ppk.
> > > 3) I installed aid.
> > > 4) disabled malformed packets and forwarding/etc in sysctl.
> > > This is a basic web server that runs email, web and a couple 
> other things.
> > > It's only running on a linode512, so I don't have the ability 
> to set 
> > > up a ton of stuff; I also think that would make things more of 
> a 
> > > mess. What else would be recommended?
> > > Also, I'm looking to add something to the web server; sometimes 
> I 
> > > notice that there are a lot of requests from people scanning 
> for 
> > > common urls like wordpress/phpbb3/etc, what kind of 
> preventative measures exist for this?
> > > --
> > > Take care,
> > > Ty
> > > http://tds-solutions.net
> > > The aspen project: a barebones light-weight mud engine:
> > > http://code.google.com/p/aspenmud
> > > He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a 
> fool; 
> > > he that dares not reason is a slave.
> > >
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > --- Securing Apache Web Server with thawte Digital Certificate 
> In 
> > > this guide we examine the importance of Apache-SSL and who 
> needs an 
> > > SSL certificate.  We look at how SSL works, how it benefits 
> your 
> > > company and how your customers can tell if a site is secure. 
> You will 
> > > find out how to test, purchase, install and use a thawte 
> Digital 
> > > Certificate on your Apache web server. Throughout, best 
> practices for 
> > > set-up are highlighted to help you ensure efficient ongoing 
> > > management of your encryption keys and digital certificates.
> http://www.dinclinx.com/Redirect.aspx?36;4175;25;1371;0;5;946;e13b6
> be
> > > 442f727d1
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > ---
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > -- Securing Apache Web Server with thawte Digital Certificate In 
> this 
> > guide we examine the importance of Apache-SSL and who needs an 
> SSL certificate.  We look at how SSL works, how it benefits your 
> company and how your customers can tell if a site is secure. You 
> will find out how to test, purchase, install and use a thawte 
> Digital Certificate on your Apache web server. Throughout, best 
> practices for set-up are highlighted to help you ensure efficient 
> ongoing management of your encryption keys and digital 
> certificates.
> >
> http://www.dinclinx.com/Redirect.aspx?36;4175;25;1371;0;5;946;e13b6
> be4
> > 42f727d1
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > --
>
> _______________________________________________
> Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
> Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html
> Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
> Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
> Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html
> Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/

_______________________________________________
Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html
Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/