RE: Application & Iplanet/Apache web server vulnerability and pen etration testing

From: Dave Piscitello (daveat_private)
Date: Thu Sep 19 2002 - 06:50:23 PDT

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    I've read Web Hacking.
    
    (Disclosure: I know the authors and do advisory work for the their company 
    but I don't get
    compensated for helping them sell books)
    
    It's a very good book for learning the methodology of and tools for web 
    hacking and thus a way to learn self-assessment and pen-testing/auditing, 
    and of course, indirectly you will learn how to protect web servers, but 
    from the "what not to do" perspective. I wouldn't buy the book if you are 
    looking for a neat and tidy list of guidelines; frankly, I don't think such 
    a list will ever give you a convenient checklist of how to redress *all* 
    the issues/threats you must consider, anyway.
    
    At 08:33 AM 9/17/2002 -0500, Cox Michael wrote:
    >2) The NIST has a doc here http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/drafts.html
    >called "Special Publication 800-44, Guidelines on Securing Public Web
    >Servers." The NSA has guides on iPlanet and Apache here
    >http://nsa1.www.conxion.com/support/download.htm.
    >
    >3) There's a guide due out in October from these good people
    >http://www.owasp.org/. There are a couple of recent books that look good,
    >but I've just received them so I can't comment in detail - _Hacking Web
    >Applications Exposed_ and _Web Hacking: Attacks and Defense_.
    >
    >Regards,
    >Michael
    >
    >
    > > -----Original Message-----
    > > From: Steven Walker [mailto:swalker7799at_private]
    > > Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 12:05 PM
    > > To: Pen-Test Security Focus
    > > Subject: Application & Iplanet/Apache web server vulnerability and
    > > penetration testing
    > > Importance: High
    > >
    > >
    > > Dear Group,
    > >
    > > I have been given a project to perform web application
    > > vulnerability testing
    > > on iPlanet and Apache web servers.  The servers run on
    > > NT/2000, Solaris
    > > 2.7-8, (iPlanet) and Linux, Solaris (Apache).
    > >
    > > In house tools are Wisker, WHArenal, NMAP, NESSUS.  I have
    > > only used NMAP
    > > and NESSUS so far for firewall and internal network testing.
    > >
    > > I am at a loss at where to start the process and am trying to
    > > determine if
    > > additional tools are needed.
    > >
    > > 1. I would obviously harden the web server OS's by closing unnecessary
    > > ports, ensuring proper patch levels, getting rid of rhost and
    > > equiv files,
    > > enforcing password policies, limiting accounts, use ssh for
    > > administration,
    > > etc.
    > >
    > > 2. I don't know what to do on the web servers other than
    > > delete example
    > > scripts and ensure default passwords are changed to stronger
    > > ones.  Are
    > > there any links that you know of that would provide a
    > > checklist of iPlanet
    > > and Apache vulnerability checks.  Are there any recommended
    > > tools that can
    > > automate this process?  Any suggestions on iPlanet and Apache
    > > security?
    > >
    > > 3. Regarding web applications, I will be expected to test applications
    > > before they go into production.  I know to test for buffer
    > > overflows buy
    > > inputting non expected characters into fields.  Beyond that
    > > what advice
    > > could you give or methodology could you direct me too.  Jobs
    > > are tough to
    > > find out there, I could use your help in keeping this one.
    > > Thanks for all
    > > of you who will help me.
    > >
    > > Sincerely
    > >
    > > Steven M. Walker  CISSP, GSEC, ABCP
    > > Security Specialist
    > > 44 W. Douglas Dr.
    > > Saint Peters, MO 63376
    > > Office:  636.279.2206
    > > Home: 636.278.8004
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
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    > >
    >
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    David M. Piscitello
    Core Competence, Inc. &
    3 Myrtle Bank Lane
    Hilton Head, SC 29926
    daveat_private
    843.689.5595
    www.corecom.com
    
    
    
    
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