Re: Re: Exploit through firewall question

[bradcausey () gmail com]

I can see what the Management is thinking. This is something called security through obscurity, and isn't a very well 
regarded pratice. It also violates defense in depth. You can pretty easily expain this to them. Just imagine the 
following scenarios:

a) Scenario: The firewall gets compromised.
Result: All DMZ systems are then exposed.

b) Scenario: There is a typo in the ruleset of the firewall.
Result: DMZ systems are then exposed.

c) Scenario: Another system in the DMZ gets compromised.
Result: All DMZ systems are then exposed.

d) An attacker hits the DMZ from the internal network.
Result: All DMZ systems are then exposed.

Its never a good idea to rely on a firewall to make up for insecure systems. There are dozens of firewall bypassing 
tools out there and probably dozens more we don't even know about. In addition, most risks are probably going to come 
from the inside. Hope this helps.
-Brad Causey

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