RE: Proper ISP Reporting

["Scott Fuhriman" <fuhrimans () llix net>]

I work for an ISP/Datacenter where we actively take steps to assist with any
abuse reports we receive.
The information Jack has provided for a report is the kind of information
that is needed, however another item is needed. 

We often get abuse reports from people and they don't leave any information
on the attacked ip address(es).  Simply giving a source IP address and what
kind of abuse was occurring is insufficient, it is also important to provide
the IP address(es) and ports of the destination of the abuse activity.
Remember that the IP address may be spoofed as well, so when contacting a
service provider do so with the realization that it may not have occurred
from the source logged.

It is often easier to investigate when you know the destination of the
attack so the provider can monitor any traffic from their network to the
destination.  Sanitized log files from the victim is also another item to
consider providing the provider once you have established communication with
them.

Unfortunately, many ISPs out there don't have the skill, experience or
proper infrastructure to mitigate malicious activity.  This is when you must
take mitigation measures into your own hands or your direct upstream
provider can assist you if you don't get a response from the possible
offending providers network.


Scott


-----Original Message-----
From: McKinley, Jackson [mailto:Jackson.McKinley () team telstra com] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 4:26 PM
To: Jason Burton
Cc: incidents () securityfocus com
Subject: RE: Proper ISP Reporting

 + Contact Information for the Incident Reporter
- Name
- E-mail address
- Phone number
- Location (Time zone and country) 
+ Incident Details
- Date/time that the incident was discovered
- Type of incident (e.g., denial of service, malicious code, unauthorized
access, inappropriate usage)
- Date/time that the incident occurred (if known)
- Current status of the incident (e.g., ongoing attack)
- Source/cause of the incident (if known), including hostnames and IP
addresses
- Description of the incident (e.g.what occurred) 
+ General Comments

 

Extra notes:
* Remember the person that looks at the email first will most likely be a
low level engineer 1st to 2nd level. Try not to be over technically but make
it clear a "Security person" should look at it.
* Use statements like "Assist with the resolution" and "Help us to solve
this issue"  Make it out that they can work with you to fix it no just them
do it.
* Leave as much info in the logs that you send as possible.  Some times its
easyer to track traffic from its distination rather then its source.
* NEVER EVER EVER EVER say you will do anything legal if they don't fix it
ASAP...  Matter of fact never use the work "legal" in any way.. The moment
you do that you start a new game, and then everything must be looked at by
legal before it goes anywhere.  Thus slowing the process down a LOT! We all
know how good at red tape legal are :P
* I always send to more then 1 address.. Abuse@isp, hostmaster@isp,
postmaster@isp, Helpdesk@isp, noc@isp, gnoc@isp, soc@isp. Are always good
places to start.
* Saying things like we have forward you details to the <Insert Agency name
here> will only have the same effect as point 3.  and they don't need to
know you have done this.
* You can try login it as a Fault with the ISP's helpdesk.  This will mean
they will have call back alarms and PKI's to think of... ;)
* Also expect things to take time.  Personally in the past when I have
worked on abuse reports for ISP's it has taken time to deal with them.
Its not like you can just switch of customer or machine XYZ.. You have to
gather info, look into it from your end, contact the customer, check with
the customers contract / AUE.  Then if the customer does nothing you can do
it.. But that can take some time.
* solve the issue with in your scope of control if you can.  Get you
Upstream to block it (if you have one ;) ) 

Cheers

Jack.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jason Burton [mailto:jab () leximedia net]
Sent: Wednesday, 17 August 2005 12:02 PM
To: incidents () securityfocus com
Subject: Proper ISP Reporting

Anyone have samples of how to properly report to ISP's regarding abuse?
 
ie. What format the email should be in, sample phrases, or sentences that
might help. I've been doing this for a while and while some work, some have
not. Im wondering if anyone has examples.
 
Thanks
 
Jason Burton
Leximedia LLC
jab () leximedia net