Re: Windows Remote Desktop - any known vulnerabilities?

[Mitch Brandt <systems () tanelorn info>]

Sorry if this is a repeat but I got a bounce message from when I sent
it previously.  Since this topic is still breathing I thought I would
try again.

There are 2 big issues-

1)  RDP is not encrypted;
2)  You opened a port in your firewall for a well known service.  You
can change which port rdp listens on or have your router redirect one
port to another as it forwards.

I know some people use rdp only with a vpn which eliminates the above issues.

Mitch

On Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 12:24 PM, Matthew Hulse
<matthew.hulse () sbcglobal net> wrote:
> I've seen a couple of articles talking about this error message occurring
> when someone connects through RDP and then disconnects without successfully
> authenticating.
>
> I would venture to guess that someone did establish a connection to your
> computer, but more than likely didn't get any further than that. If the
> person attempting to gain access doesn't have a valid username/password,
> then there's probably no compromise. You can check the security event log at
> those time periods and see if there were any successful logons, but I think
> that logging option is turned off by default. If so, there won't be any
> trace there.
>
> I personally don't know of any vulnerabilities in Remote Desktop that are
> being exploited (not saying that there aren't any).
>
> M@
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com] On
> Behalf Of Chuck Mayers
> Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2010 8:21 PM
> To: security-basics () securityfocus com
> Subject: Windows Remote Desktop - any known vulnerabilities?
>
> About 6 months ago, I wanted to connect to my home computer (which runs
> Windows 7) from work, so I enabled Remote Desktop, with the option "Allow
> connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less
> secure)". It was a one time thing, and I've never used it since. I left
> these options on.
>
> Today I noticed an event in the event log:
>
> The RDP protocol component X.224 detected an error in the protocol stream
> and has disconnected the client.
>
> This same error also appears one other time, 2 months ago.
>
> I've googled the message, it sounds like it could simply be an error you'd
> get if a remote user closed his session... except that there shouldn't be
> any remote users! At the time of the event, I'm not even sure if I was using
> the computer, but I know that I have not used RDP for 6 months and no one
> else should be connecting.
>
> Are there any known Remote Desktop vulnerabilities (for a PC acting as the
> server) that I should be worried about?
>
> Is there any other way this event would be in the event log, besides the
> obvious - someone had connected to my PC?
>
> I looked in the event log for anything obviously strange around the times of
> these events, and I don't see anything. The PC seems fine and I don't have
> any reason to think it was compromised except for this strange event
> message.
>
> I'm wondering if there is anything else I can check for, to figure out what
> this cryptic message means.
>
> Thanks
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 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;e13b6be442f727
> d1
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 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;e13b6be442f727d1
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
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;e13b6be442f727d1
------------------------------------------------------------------------