Commerce rapped on infosec lapses

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

Forwarded by: William Knowles <wk () c4i org>

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2001/0806/news-comm-08-06-01.asp

By Colleen OHara 
Aug. 6, 2001 

Lawmakers took the Commerce Department to task at an Aug. 3 hearing
after auditors testified they found numerous information security
lapses on agency systems.

During an investigation into security practices at seven Commerce
organizations, "hackers" from the General Accounting Office were able
to gain unauthorized access to systems and read, modify and delete
sensitive economic, personnel and business data.

Among the data at risk is information related to national security,
missile technology and biological warfare residing on systems at the
Bureau of Export Administration.

Intruders could disrupt mission-critical systems without being
detected, said Robert Dacey, director of information security issues
at GAO, in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committees
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

In one case, GAO investigators gained access to a system only to find
that a Russian hacker had been there already, without the knowledge of
Commerce managers.

"In short, the department simply has no idea whether its sensitive
systems are being or have been compromised a totally unacceptable
situation," said subcommittee chairman Rep. James Greenwood.

GAO also found that many systems could be accessed without passwords
or were unprotected and that a user on one bureaus network could
change the configuration of other bureaus network controls via the
Internet, Dacey said.

Commerce Inspector General Johnnie Frazier said internal audits found
similar security holes, but better cooperation should help plug them.
Last month, the IGs office signed a memorandum of agreement with the
Office of the Chief Information Officer and the Office of Security to
share responsibility on Commerces information technology security
issues.

Samuel Bodman, deputy secretary at Commerce, said the problem is more
a matter of "management and priorities" and is being addressed.
Already, the secretary has given the department CIO authority to guide
bureau security plans, he said.



*==============================================================*
"Communications without intelligence is noise;  Intelligence
without communications is irrelevant." Gen Alfred. M. Gray, USMC
================================================================
C4I.org - Computer Security, & Intelligence - http://www.c4i.org
*==============================================================*

-
ISN is currently hosted by Attrition.org

To unsubscribe email majordomo () attrition org with 'unsubscribe isn' in the BODY
of the mail.