Re: Secure host newbie - fun - humm

[Barry Fitzgerald <bkfsec () sdf lonestar org>]

Ranjeet Shetye wrote:

> I'd say that most of the **avoidable** security **problems** are created
> by human beings (and network admins too).
>
> just going over the recent well-publicised and researched breakins:
>
> ftp.gnu.org - known ptrace kernel exploit (but no solution available) -
> TECHNOLOGY + HUMAN (cos admins decided to leave machine running and
> "risk it").
>  
Are you advocating that people should just take their servers down if 
someone finds an exploit that isn't patched?  Well, in that case, who 
needs denial of service attacks?

You're also assuming that every admin is aware when an exploit is found, 
that's not always the case.  (In fact, I'd argue that it's like that 
unless a patch or new version is released and said admin is on an 
announcement list, they probably don't know about the vulnerability.)

If both of these are the case, then an issue like this is not a human 
issue at all - it's a technology issue.


> (My interpretation:
> TECHNOLOGY - unexpectedly getting a flat tyre while you're driving.
> HUMAN - driving around despite knowing that you have a flat tyre.)
>
>
>  

I disagree completely.

I see what you're getting at, but it's not enough.  I'd define it this way:

TECHNOLOGY - Any issue which could have been prevented or stopped 
technologically.  This includes flaws in software that are purely 
technical -- including flaws in design methodology.

HUMAN - Improper use, misconfiguration of known-to-be-insecure 
configurations, use of inherently vulnerable services (like nfs and 
telnet) when better alternatives exist and are equally available, and 
not patching a system when it is known to be safely patchable.  (In the 
real world, you can't just patch a system -- you have to test things 
first.)  Most of these are configuration and use issues, and often there 
is a justification for carrying out the action.  For instance, telnet is 
inherently "insecure".  Yet, there are times when it's appropriate to 
use telnet. 

Sometimes, decisions aren't cut and dry and it's these decisions that 
fall into the HUMAN category, not the decision to run a vulnerable 
system when you don't have a choice.  That's purely technological.


               -Barry




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