RE: [Full-disclosure] 3rd party patch for XP for MS09-048?

["Thor (Hammer of God)" <thor () hammerofgod com>]

Thanks for the link.  The problem here is that not enough information is given, and what IS given is obviously watered 
down to the point of being ineffective.

The quote that stands out most for me:
<snip>
During the Q&A, however, Windows users repeatedly asked Microsoft's security team to explain why it wasn't patching XP, 
or if, in certain scenarios, their machines might be at risk. "We still use Windows XP and we do not use Windows 
Firewall," read one of the user questions. "We use a third-party vendor firewall product. Even assuming that we use the 
Windows Firewall, if there are services listening, such as remote desktop, wouldn't then Windows XP be vulnerable to 
this?"

"Servers are a more likely target for this attack, and your firewall should provide additional protections against 
external exploits," replied Stone and Bryant.
</snip>

If an employee managing a product that my company owned gave answers like that to a public interview with 
Computerworld, they would be in deep doo.  First off, my default install of XP Pro SP2 has remote assistance inbound, 
and once you join to a domain, you obviously accept necessary domain traffic.  This "no inbound traffic by default so 
you are not vulnerable" line is crap.  It was a direct question - "If RDP is allowed through the firewall, are we 
vulnerable?" A:"Great question. Yes, servers are the target.  A firewall should provide added protection, maybe.  Rumor 
is that's what they are for.  Not sure really.  What was the question again?"

You don't get "trustworthy" by not answering people's questions, particularly when they are good, obvious questions.  
Just be honest about it.  "Yes, XP is vulnerable to a DOS.  Your firewall might help, but don't bet on it.  XP code is 
something like 15 years old now, and we're not going to change it.  That's the way it is, sorry. Just be glad you're 
using XP and not 2008/vista or you'd be patching your arse off right now." 

If MSFT thinks they are mitigating public opinion issues by side-stepping questions and not fully exposing the 
problems, they are wrong.  This just makes it worse. That's the long answer.  The short answer is "XP is vulnerable to 
a DoS, and a patch is not being offered."

t 



> -----Original Message-----
> From: full-disclosure-bounces () lists grok org uk [mailto:full-
> disclosure-bounces () lists grok org uk] On Behalf Of Eric C. Lukens
> Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 2:37 PM
> To: bugtraq () securityfocus com
> Cc: full-disclosure () lists grok org uk
> Subject: Re: [Full-disclosure] 3rd party patch for XP for MS09-048?
>
> Reference:
>
> http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9138007/Microsoft_No_TCP_IP_patc
> hes_for_you_XP
>
> MS claims the patch would require to much overhaul of XP to make it
> worth it, and they may be right.  Who knows how many applications might
> break that were designed for XP if they have to radically change the
> TCP/IP stack.  Now, I don't know if the MS speak is true, but it
> certainly sounds like it is not going to be patched.
>
> The other side of the MS claim is that a properly-firewalled XP system
> would not be vulnerable to a DOS anyway, so a patch shouldn't be
> necessary.
>
> -Eric
>
> -------- Original Message  --------
> Subject: Re: 3rd party patch for XP for MS09-048?
> From: Jeffrey Walton <noloader () gmail com>
> To: nowhere () devnull com
> Cc: bugtraq () securityfocus com, full-disclosure () lists grok org uk
> Date: 9/15/09 3:49 PM
> > Hi Aras,
> >
> >
> > > Given that M$ has officially shot-down all current Windows XP users
> by not
> > > issuing a patch for a DoS level issue,
> > Can you cite a reference?
> >
> > Unless Microsoft has changed their end of life policy [1], XP should
> > be patched for security vulnerabilities until about 2014. Both XP
> Home
> > and XP Pro's mainstream support ended in 4/2009, but extended support
> > ends in 4/2014 [2]. Given that we know the end of extended support,
> > take a look at bullet 17 of [1]:
> >
> >     17. What is the Security Update policy?
> >
> >     Security updates will be available through the end of the
> Extended
> >     Support phase (five years of Mainstream Support plus five years
> of
> >     the Extended Support) at no additional cost for most products.
> >     Security updates will be posted on the Microsoft Update Web site
> >     during both the Mainstream and the Extended Support phase.
> >
> >
> > > I realize some of you might be tempted to relay the M$ BS about "not
> being
> > > feasible because it's a lot of work" rhetoric...
> > Not at all.
> >
> > Jeff
> >
> > [1] http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy
> > [2] http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselect
> >
> > On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 2:46 PM, Aras "Russ" Memisyazici
> > <nowhere () devnull com> wrote:
> >
> > > Hello All:
> > >
> > > Given that M$ has officially shot-down all current Windows XP users
> by not
> > > issuing a patch for a DoS level issue, I'm now curious to find out
> whether
> > > or not any brave souls out there are already working or willing to
> work on
> > > an open-source patch to remediate the issue within XP.
> > >
> > > I realize some of you might be tempted to relay the M$ BS about "not
> being
> > > feasible because it's a lot of work" rhetoric... I would just like
> to hear
> > > the thoughts of the true experts subscribed to these lists :)
> > >
> > > No harm in that is there?
> > >
> > > Aras "Russ" Memisyazici
> > > Systems Administrator
> > > Virginia Tech
>
> --
> Eric C. Lukens
> IT Security Policy and Risk Assessment Analyst
> ITS-Network Services
> Curris Business Building 15
> University of Northern Iowa
> Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0121
> 319-273-7434
> http://www.uni.edu/elukens/
> http://weblogs.uni.edu/elukens/
>
>
>
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