[ISN] A Bug Bounty Program for Microsoft?

From: InfoSec News (alerts@private)
Date: Wed Jan 17 2007 - 22:06:15 PST


Forwarded from: Security UPDATE <Security_UPDATE (at) list.windowsitpro.com>

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=== CONTENTS ===================================================

IN FOCUS: A Bug Bounty Program for Microsoft?

NEWS AND FEATURES
   - Man-in-the-Middle Attacks Made Simple
   - Web Sites Move Toward One-Time PINs
   - Blocking Web Sites in ISA Server
   - Recent Security Vulnerabilities

GIVE AND TAKE
   - Security Matters Blog: Securing Windows Vista Services  
   - FAQ: Start a Command Shell with Elevated Permissions
   - From the Forum: Drive Encryption with Page Files and Temporary 
Files
   - Share Your Security Tips
   - Microsoft Learning Paths for Security: Deploying Microsoft 
     Identity and Access Management Technologies

PRODUCTS
   - Encrypt Backup Data at the Media Server
   - Wanted: Your Reviews of Products 

RESOURCES AND EVENTS

FEATURED WHITE PAPER

ANNOUNCEMENTS


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=== IN FOCUS: A Bug Bounty Program for Microsoft? ==============
   by Mark Joseph Edwards, News Editor, mark at ntsecurity / net

iDefense Labs' first quarter 2007 Vulnerability Challenge is targeted 
at those who can find particular bugs in Windows Vista and Microsoft 
Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0. The company is offering between $8,000 and 
$12,000 for a new discovery and between $2,000 and $4,000 for a working 
exploit of that vulnerability, depending on the quality.

According to the Vulnerability Challenge rules (at the URL below), "The 
vulnerability must be remotely exploitable and must allow arbitrary 
code execution in a default installation of one of the technologies 
listed above." Furthermore, "the vulnerability must exist in the latest 
version of the affected technology with all available patches/upgrades 
applied," and "the vulnerability must not require additional social 
engineering beyond browsing a malicious site."
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B76:7EB890

iDefense (a VeriSign company) profits from these challenges by 
reselling the vulnerability data to its customers and from the 
publicity the challenges generate. 

Black hats sell vulnerability information too. You've probably read 
news stories about people attempting to sell vulnerabilities of the 
caliber desired by iDefense on various Internet sites. These black hats 
often claim that they'll sell a working exploit to the highest bidder 
(they sometimes have a reserve price that they won't go below). One 
story I read said that a black hat offered to sell an exploit for 
$50,000. That's a lot of money for working exploit code. 

People who buy such exploit code undoubtedly expect to profit from it 
somehow, most likely through some type of theft or fraud. So if sellers 
of exploit code can get that kind of money, or even half that much, and 
buyers can make their money back by using the exploit code, then the 
potential takers of iDefense's challenge will be either white hats or 
those who don't have a vehicle to sell their vulnerability information. 

Fortunately, some people will sell their work to iDefense simply 
because they don't want to see their discoveries used to exploit 
innocent people, and that's a great motive. But I think we need to keep 
in mind that many discovers of security vulnerabilities don't care 
about innocent people--what they care about is personal gain. Seen in 
that light, iDefense's offer of a maximum of $12,000 seems rather low 
and might not attract people who discover the most serious 
vulnerabilities.

Other companies offering bug bounties include 3Com (at the first URL 
below) and Mozilla Foundation (at the second URL below). 3Com's Zero 
Day Initiative is a points program in which the more bugs you submit, 
the more points you receive. You trade points for benefits such as cash 
and travel to security conferences. Mozilla Foundation pays a flat fee 
of $500 for a bug found in Mozilla software, plus you get a T-shirt. 
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B78:7EB890
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B73:7EB890

All three of these programs have been under way for quite some time now 
and are successful to some extent or other. The question in my mind is 
why hasn't Microsoft instituted a similar program? I think it would be 
a great addition to the company's current efforts at making their 
products more secure.


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=== SECURITY NEWS AND FEATURES =================================

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks Made Simple
   A kit automates the creation of a fraudulent URL, which acts as a 
man-in-the-middle to gather sensitive private information from 
unsuspecting users in real time.
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B6D:7EB890

Web Sites Move Toward One-Time PINs 
  Think you have too many cards in your purse or pocket? Just wait 
until you have a dozen or more PIN generators to carry around.
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B6C:7EB890

Blocking Web Sites in ISA Server
   Web blacklisting services maintain lists of Web sites that contain 
pornography, hate speech, violence, hacking tools, or other prohibited 
content. You can subscribe to an inexpensive blacklisting service and 
import its list (typically updated each week) into ISA Server with a 
script. Jason Fossen walks you through the steps.
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B6E:7EB890

Recent Security Vulnerabilities
   If you subscribe to this newsletter, you also receive Security 
Alerts, which inform you about recently discovered security 
vulnerabilities. You can also find information about these 
discoveries at
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B66:7EB890


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=== GIVE AND TAKE ==============================================

SECURITY MATTERS BLOG: Securing Windows Vista Services   
   by Mark Joseph Edwards, http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B75:7EB890

As you might know, services in Vista are better protected than services 
in previous versions of Windows. But do you know how Microsoft hardens 
Vista services?
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B70:7EB890

FAQ: Start a Command Shell with Elevated Permissions
   by John Savill, http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B72:7EB890 

Q: How can I start a command prompt session with Administrative 
privileges in Windows Vista? 

Find the answer at
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B6F:7EB890

FROM THE FORUM: Drive Encryption
   A forum participant is testing TrueCrypt drive encryption. He's 
created an encrypted D drive and set his system page file to reside on 
the D drive so that it's also encrypted. His temporary directories are 
also on the D drive. His problem is that at boot time, the screen 
splits into four squiggly screens, then finally resolves. He said the 
problem was that the system was unable to create the page file because 
the D drive is unavailable until you enter the password into TrueCrypt. 
Does anyone have a solution or a recommendation for other drive 
encryption software? Join the discussion at
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=46B5F:7EB890

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=== PRODUCTS ===================================================
   by Renee Munshi, products@private

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existing NetBackup policies and existing NetBackup clients and can 
encrypt specific information that client users want to encrypt. MSEO 
centralizes encryption key management by automatically and centrally 
tracking which key was used for which tape and can store keys at a 
disaster recovery site. For more information, go to
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=== RESOURCES AND EVENTS =======================================
   For more security-related resources, visit
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=== ANNOUNCEMENTS ==============================================

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