October, 2009

When a “Fix” is Not a Fix - The Fix is In

In my previous post, I discussed the Time Warner/SMC modem enormous security flaw.

Lo and behold, I am visited and left a comment by “Adam Wood” defending SMC, and telling me/us what a wonderful job SMC is doing about this issue.

(That’s got to be a really crappy job for a lowly PR flack; surfing the Internet for comments on the SMC modem, and uploading a canned positive comment wherever he can.)

Despite “Mr. Wood’s” comments about how SMC is fixing the problem in an absolutely wonderful way, I admit to some slight cynicism. Especially after reading more from David Chen, the guy who found it in the first place.

According to Mr. Chen, Time-Warner claimed to have pushed out a “temporary fix.” But here is his latest conclusion:

UPDATE: Finally figured out what the “patch” Time Warner deployed was. If a user tries to login with the user/user account, it simply kicks them back to the login page with javascript. All routers are still open to the internet and all still have the same default admin password.

It seems that a fix from Time-Warner or SMC seems to consist almost entirely of PR.

Using Time-Warner as Your Internet Provider? Check Your Modem QUICKLY

As lf 10/20/09, a software maven has written of a major security hole (one you can drive a TRUCK through) in the wifi/cable modem models issued to customers who don’t want to use their own equipment.

Here’s the link, in all its’ details, by David Chen, writing up the vulnerability, which HAS been confirmed by Time-Warner. As of this writing, Time-Warner has no plans to change or resolve the vulnerability.

Here’s the quick version:

The modem: SMC8014 series cable modem/wifi router combination

Issue 1 : Time-Warner/SMC has the modem locked down in a default mode which is not accessible to the average user. The default configuration has a default username/password and has locked WEP as the wifi encryption with a standard SSID. (You might as well make the SSID: HACK_ME_I’M_EASY)

Issue 2: Admin access to the modem is disabled via Javascript. When David Chen disabled Javascript in his browser, he could see all the admin features, including something called “Backup Configuration File.”

Issue 3: The backup configuration file comes in a plain text file, which includes the admin ID and password. In plain text.

Issue 4: By default, the web admin interface is accessible from ANYWHERE on the internet. By running a simple port scan of Time Warner IP addresses, David Chen easily found dozens of these routers, open to attack.

So you KNOW that this since this has been picked up by Wired every knucklehead out there will be looking for these routers to play with.

The resolution to this mind-boggling issue that Time-Warner says they can’t do anything about?

Replace the modem - ASAP. And, complain, complain, complain.

End-To-End Encryption -Wouldn’t It Be Nice?

Since Heartland suffered a data breach (disclosed in January), they’ve become the poster child for end-to-end encryption. This is defined as encrypting card information from the moment it’s swiped until it reaches the card issuer. Of course, there may be some motivation provided by the fact that Heartland plans to sell a proprietary end-to-end encryption system by the end of this year. (Not sure I’d buy it from them!)

It sounds like a perfect solution, until you get into the mechanics. And that’s where the problems begin:

Hardware - Are all POS (Point of Sale) registers going to be able to handle the increased load of CPU cycles to encrypt and decrypt? It seems like all the vendors want you to use their hardware.

Software - Not all POS solutions are the same. What about companies that use registers AND online sales? Plus, there is currently no standard for what kind of encryption should be used. So you must go with a proprietary solution all the way through. How many companies can afford to replace so much materiel?

Location, location, location - Where does the data get stored? Can the database decrypt and re-encrypt? What about Call Centers, Fraud Management, or Marketing? They need to look at the information. Ultimately, where are the encryption keys stored and who/what has access to them?

Of the six vendors offering E2E, all of them require changes to POS systems.

And should this technology be implemented, it will not release businesses from complying with PCI. No, a report will still have to be delivered to the acquiring bank on an annual basis, signed by a C-level executive.

There’s no free lunch, it seems.

Malware on the Move

I was reading an article from Window Secrets this morning at 6:00 AM (in a hotel room, what else does a geek do?) and I wanted to pass along an excellent article in the newsletter.

The folks there offer a free and paid version of their newsletter. I have to say that after trying their free version, I decided to spend my hard-earned shekels for their paid subscription, and have not regretted it. It’s a newsletter for savvy Windows users, (as opposed to us more technical folks on TechTarget) but I frequently find tools and tips I’d like to have. Their list of freeware tools is outstanding AND examined for malware.

The article, by Susan Bradley starts out with the headline, The ads served by Bing and Google along with your search results are linking more and more often to sites trying to infect your machine.

This is not good news.

It seems that the major search engines, Google, Yahoo and Bing are looking the other way when evil people buy up popular search terms. When you click on the link, malware is installed through your browser. The search engines are not “vetting” the ads to make sure they are clean.

Susan suggests, and I’m inclined to agree, that the search engines know about this issue, but aren’t willing to police the ads because they are making so much money.

It’s possible to become infected, simply by viewing the sites. Not too long ago, the the New York Times reported on itself because an ad they posted infected subscribers.

Time for the search engines to start policing their ads.

Your Electric Utility and The Privacy Impact

You wouldn’t think that the power meter in your basement could have anything significant to say about you, personally, would you? Well, you (and I) would be wrong, very wrong, on that point.

We tend to have the mindset that only computers store and transport personal information, but there are far more items transmitting across IP or wireless connections, or RFID that by their nature reveal information about us.

Consider the EZ Pass, common on cars throughout the US. Officials can use that to track where your car is (and presumably you, or errant offspring) by watching where you have paid your tolls. That and your phone bill tell a great deal of “where, when and who” information.

There are privacy concerns about what there is in your wallet carrying an RFID chip, and how far away that information could be captured (estimates range from 3 ft to 30 ft). Credit cards, driving license and passports give your life away to the right reader.

Transmission from webcams, security cameras, and smartcards also go across the IP network.

So, imagine my dismay upon reading my colleague Rebecca Herrold’s Blog posting on SmartGrid privacy issues.

A SmartGrid “delivers electricity from suppliers to consumers using digital technology to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability and transparency. Such a modernized electricity network is being promoted by many governments as a way of addressing energy independence, global warming and emergency resilience issues.” (Quote from Wikipedia) The Wikipedia is a very well written article, by the way.

All this sounds very nice until you read about a utility that planned to use power utilization to target low income customers for a “pre-pay” billing cycle.

Once again, a new technology puts security and privacy last. Her table made my hair curl.

The concept is marvelous for municipalities and governments; it provides an upgrade to an infrastructure put into place 120 years ago.

However, consider one of the points that Rebecca Herrold makes:

“The meter data could reveal resident activities or uses that utility companies may then subsequently decide are inappropriate or should not be allowed. Without restrictions, if this information could then shared with local government, law enforcement, or public media outlets the residents could
suffer embarrassment, harassment, loss of vital appliances, or any number of other damaging actions.”

What happens to privacy when that information is captured during a data breach?