http://www.informationarmor.com/2010/05/27/the-internet/

Microsoft Outlook Express Exploit
Exploit code has been made publicly available that triggers a vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook Express and Windows Mail. The integer overflow vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code, although the attacker would need to control the mail server being used by the victim. At this time, there is no known vendor patch available.
http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/12564
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2010-0816

Microsoft’s May Security Patches
As a reminder, Microsoft will be issuing their May security release later today. The two scheduled bulletins will address remote code execution vulnerabilities in Windows and Office. We will update the assessment when more details are available.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS10-may.mspx

I’ve read One Man’s blog, where John talks about guessing or brute force attacking to hack your password. The introduction of special characters dramatically increases the time it takes for an automated program to try and guess your password.

John writes about these following great tips.

1. Randomly substitute numbers for letters that look similar. The letter ‘o’ becomes the number ‘0′, or even better an ‘@’ or ‘*’. (i.e. – m0d3ltf0rd… like modelTford)
2. Randomly throw in capital letters (i.e. – Mod3lTF0rd)
3. Think of something you were attached to when you were younger, but DON’T CHOOSE A PERSON’S NAME! Every name plus every word in the dictionary will fail under a simple brute force attack.
4. Maybe a place you loved, or a specific car, an attraction from a vacation, or a favorite restaurant?
5. You really need to have different username / password combinations for everything. Remember, the technique is to break into anything you access just to figure out your standard password, then compromise everything else. This doesn’t work if you don’t use the same password everywhere.
6. Since it can be difficult to remember a ton of passwords, I recommend using Roboform for Windows users. It will store all of your passwords in an encrypted format and allow you to use just one master password to access all of them. It will also automatically fill in forms on Web pages, and you can even get versions that allow you to take your password list with you on your PDA, phone or a USB key. If you’d like to download it without having to navigate their web site here is the direct download link.
7. Mac users can use 1Password. It is essentially the same thing as Roboform, except for Mac, and they even have an iPhone application so you can take them with you too.
8. Once you’ve thought of a password, try Microsoft’s password strength tester to find out how secure it is.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS10-024.mspx

2. Microsoft DirectShow Remote Code Execution (MS10-026 CVE-2010-0480)
Microsoft Windows is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, caused by improper bounds checking by the MPEG Layer-3 audio codecs when handling malicious files. The vulnerable MPEG Layer-3 audio codecs are the MPEG Layer-3 Audio Codec for Microsoft DirectShow. Successful exploitation of this issue would provide an attacker with complete control over the endpoint target. The use of malicious media files like images and movies has been prevalent in the past years.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS10-026.mspx

Adobe Reader and Acrobat Security Update
Adobe has addressed multiple critical vulnerabilities affecting Adobe Reader 9.3.1 (and earlier versions) for Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX, Adobe Acrobat 9.3.1 (and earlier versions) for Windows and Macintosh, and Adobe Reader 8.2.1 (and earlier versions) and Adobe Acrobat 8.2.1 (and earlier versions) for Windows and Macintosh. The most severe of these issues could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system. Refer to the “Solution” section of the Adobe Security Bulletin for information on remediating these issues.
http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-09.html

Microsoft April 2010 Security Release
Microsoft released eleven security bulletins today. There are five rated Critical, five rated Important and one rated Moderate. We encourage our customers to apply the patches and IBM product coverage where applicable. Please, review the break-down below.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-apr.mspx

Microsoft Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-019: Vulnerabilities in Windows Could Allow Remote Code Execution (981210)
Vulnerabilities in Windows Authenticode Verification could allow a remote attacker execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.
CVE-2010-0486
CVE-2010-0487
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-019.mspx

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-020: Vulnerabilities in SMB Client Could Allow Remote Code Execution (980232)
Multiple vulnerabilities affecting Microsoft Windows could allow remote code execution. Successful exploitation can occur if an attacker can convince a user to initiate an SMB connection to a specially crafted SMB server.
CVE-2009-3676
CVE-2010-0269
CVE-2010-0270
CVE-2010-0476
CVE-2010-0477
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-020.mspx

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-025: Vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Media Services Could Allow Remote Code Execution (980858)
A remote code execution vulnerability affects Windows Media Services running on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. The Windows Media Unicast Service fails to properly handle specially crafted transport information packets. On Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4, Windows Media Services is an optional component and is not installed by default.
CVE-2010-0478
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-025.mspx

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-026: Vulnerability in Microsoft MPEG Layer-3 Codecs Could Allow Remote Code Execution (977816)
2. Microsoft DirectShow Remote Code Execution (MS10-026 CVE-2010-0480)
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-026.mspx

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-027: Vulnerability in Windows Media Player Could Allow Remote Code Execution (979402)
The Windows Media Player ActiveX control is affected by a remote code execution vulnerability.
CVE-2010-0268
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-027.mspx

Microsoft Maximum Severity Rating: Important
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-021: Vulnerabilities in Windows Kernel Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (979683)
This bulletin addresses two vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, the most severe of which could allow elevation of privilege. In order to exploit these vulnerabilities, an attacker must have valid logon credentials and be able to log on locally.
CVE-2010-0236
CVE-2010-0237
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-021.mspx

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-022: Vulnerability in VBScript Scripting Engine Could Allow Remote Code Execution (981169)
A vulnerability affecting VBScript on Microsoft Windows could allow remote code execution. This vulnerability requires user interaction and cannot be exploited on Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 R2.
CVE-2010-0483
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-022.mspx

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-023: Vulnerability in Microsoft Office Publisher Could Allow Remote Code Execution (981160)
Microsoft Office Publisher is vulnerable to a remote code execution issue. An attacker could exploit this issue by creating a specially crafted Publisher file and sending it in an email or hosting it on a Web site.
CVE-2010-0479; IBM Product Coverage: CompoundFile_Shellcode_Detected
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-023.mspx

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-024: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange and Windows SMTP Service Could Allow Denial of Service (981832)
1. Denial of Service Conditions in Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SMTP Service
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-024.mspx

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-028: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Visio Could Allow Remote Code Execution (980094)
Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Visio could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Visio file.
CVE-2010-0254; IBM Product Coverage: CompoundFile_Shellcode_Detected
CVE-2010-0256; IBM Product Coverage: CompoundFile_Shellcode_Detected
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-028.mspx

Microsoft Maximum Severity Rating: Moderate
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-029: Vulnerability in Windows ISATAP Component Could Allow Spoofing (978338)
A spoofing vulnerability exists in the Microsoft Windows IPv6 stack which could allow an attacker to impersonate an address to bypass edge or host firewalls. CVE-2010-0812
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-029.mspx

Pay attention to what you post and upload. Social networking is public.

• Consider images, videos, and information you publish
• You shouldn’t publish your address, date of birth, etc.
• Use a nick-name that only your friends know.

Choose your friends with care.

• Do not accept friend requests from people you do not know
• Verify all your contacts

Protect your work and environment and avoid reputation risk

• When joining a social networking site use your personal e-mail address
• Be careful how you portray your company online
• Do not mix your business contacts with your friend contacts

Protect your mobile phone and the information saved on it from any physical intrusion

• Do not let anyone see your profile or personal information without consent
• Do not leave your phone unattended
• Do not save your passwords on your mobile phone
• Use the security features available on your mobile phone

Turn off Location Aware Services

• Twitter, Google Buzz, Foursquare and new Smart-phones will publish your location when you post an announcement. Letting the entire world know you aren’t home. See the website http://pleaserobme.com/
• Instead of using a GPS to mark your home location, have your GPS set home to a familiar landmark near your home, such as a corner store. If a thief breaks into your car, not only do they know you aren’t home, but they will have access to your garage door opener and turn by turn directions to your front door.

When Planning Vacation

• Do not post dates and times you will be away, rather write posts as a journal of events that have happened so it’s a surprise that you were gone for a period of time.

Anti-Phishing Flow Chart

A hacker found a personal email account. Similar to the Sarah Palin Yahoo! account hack, the hacker researched social networking sites to find the answers to the “secret question” required to reset the account’s password. In going through the emails in the account, the hacker apparently found the password used for Twitter which was linked to Google.

Therefore, when you are asked secret questions while setting up an account, do not use your mother’s maiden name when asked for your mother’s maiden name. Use nicknames for your mother’s maiden name or question if you really need to have that account created.

The safety of our information at work requires us all to have separate passwords from those in our personal lives. If you have separate passwords for your MySpace and your Online Banking, then great! If your logon to Yahoo! email and your work account are different, then congratulations! You are practicing safe computing!

Identity Theft – Protect Yourselves
Here is a list of ways you can stop identity theft from happening to you:

• Destroy private records and statements. Tear up — or, if you prefer, shred — credit card statements, solicitations and other documents that contain private financial information.
• Secure your mail. Empty your mailbox quickly, lock it or get a P.O. box so criminals do not have a chance to snatch credit card pitches. Never mail outgoing bill payments and checks from home. They can be stolen from your mailbox and the payee’s name erased with solvents. Mail them from the post office or another secure location.
• Safeguard your social security number. Never carry your card with you, or any other card that may have your number, like a health insurance card. And do not put your number on your checks. It’s the primary target for identity thieves because it gives them access to your credit report and bank accounts.
• Don’t leave a paper trail. Never leave ATM, credit card or gas station receipts behind.
• Never let your credit card out of your sight. Worried about credit card skimming? Always keep an eye on your card or, when that’s not possible, pay with cash.
• Know who you’re dealing with. Whenever anyone contacts you asking for private identity or financial information, make no response other than to find out who they are, what company they represent and the reason for the call. If you think the request is legitimate, contact the company yourself and confirm what you were told before revealing any of your personal data.
• Take your name off the marketers’ hit lists. In addition to the national Do-Not-Call registry (1-888-382-1222), you can also cut down on junk mail and opt out of credit card solicitations.
• Be more defensive with personal information. Ask salespeople and others if information such as a Social Security or driver license number is absolutely necessary. Ask anyone who does require your Social Security number — for instance, your insurance company — what their privacy policy is and whether you can arrange for the organization not to share your information with anyone else.
• Monitor your credit report. Obtain and thoroughly review your credit report, now available for free at Annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228, at least once a year to look for suspicious activity. If you spot something, alert your card company or the creditor immediately. You may also want to subscribe to a credit protection service, like Experian’s CreditCheck, which alerts you any time a change takes place with your credit report.
• Review your credit card statements carefully. Make sure you recognize the merchants, locations and purchases listed before paying the bill. If you don’t need or use department-store or bank-issued credit cards, consider closing the accounts.

CVE-2009-4074

CVE-2010-0027

CVE-2010-0244

CVE-2010-0245

CVE-2010-0246

CVE-2010-0247

CVE-2010-0248

CVE-2010-0249

Customers should apply this update as soon as possible. The update will also be sent through the Automatic update mechanism.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-002.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-jan.mspx

Additional Technical Detail

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) Bypass
There is a report of a new exploit that bypasses Data Execution Prevention (DEP). We have analyzed the Proof-of-Concept (POC) exploit code and have found that Windows Vista and later versions of Windows offer more effective protections in blocking the exploit due to the improved security protection offered by Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). Windows XP does not currently benefit from ASLR and will be more susceptible.

Additional details on the DEP bypass exploit are provided in a Security Research and Defense Blog published today.
http://blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2010/01/20/reports-of-dep-being-bypassed.aspx

Microsoft E-Mail Products That Render using mshtml.dll Protected by Default
There have been reports that supported versions of Outlook, Outlook Express and Windows Live Mail are affected by the vulnerability in Security Advisory 979352.

For customers using the default configuration of all supported versions of Outlook, Outlook Express and Windows Live Mail the risk of exploit using Outlook as an attack vector is low. We are unaware of active exploit against supported versions of Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Live. If customers have modified their default configuration to not run in Restricted sites zone, their environments will be in a less secure, more vulnerable, state.

Please review the announcement described above for more detail.

Office Applications with Active Scripting Enabled Potentially Vulnerable
Microsoft indicates that an ActiveX control in a Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file is a potentially exploitable vulnerability. Customers would have to open a malicious file to be at risk of exploitation, and Microsoft recommends disabling ActiveX Controls in Microsoft Office.

Live Briefing
On Thursday, January 21 at 1:00 p.m. PST (UTC – 8) Microsoft will host a public webcast where information on the bulletin will be presented.
Registration: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032440627

Original . . .

Yesterday we updated the assessment to reflect an impending out of cycle security update from Microsoft which will address the 0-day Microsoft Internet Explorer vulnerability highlighted in recent assessments. The update is announced in an MSRC blog posting, and timing for the release is expected to be explained today. The threat level remains at AlertCon 2 while we continue to encurage review of Microsoft Security Advisory for workaround information and X-Force Protection Alert for associated IBM product coverage.
http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2010/01/19/security-advisory-979352-going-out-of-band.aspx
https://portal.mss.iss.net/mss/xftas/alertAdvisory/details.mss?alertAdvisoryId=3382
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/979352.mspx

Shortly after the blog posting from MSRC appeared, a new posting on Neohapsis [Full Disclosure] began to be discussed. The posting explains how a restricted Windows user can exploit the Virtual DOS Machine (VDM) to gain command access in the system context (Ring 0). Microsoft was notified of the flaw in June 2009, but there currently is no patch. Exploit code that functions under Windows XP, 2003 Server, 2008 Server, Vista, and Windows 7 has been made available, and has been confirmed to function as described.

Mitigation steps requiring the Group Policy Editor for Windows 2003 Server systems are included in the Neohapsis article. For those systems that do not include the GPE the heise security team has provided instructions for a registry hack that should work until a patch is available.
http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2010-01/0346.html
http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Windows-hole-discovered-after-17-years-Update-908917.html

Apple Computer released their Security Update 2010-001 yesterday. The update addresses several multi-media applications, as well as printer handling, and a patch to suppress renegotiation in OpenSSL while the IETF works out final changes to the renegotiation protocol. The multi-media flaws relate to MP4, TIFF, and RAW(DNG) files, as well as multiple patches to the Adobe Flash player plug-in.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4004

Adobe has released an update for critical vulnerabilities in Adobe Shockwave Player 11.5.2.602 and earlier versions, on the Windows and Macintosh operating systems. The vulnerabilities could allow an attacker, who successfully exploits the vulnerabilities, to run malicious code on the affected system. Adobe has provided a solution for the reported vulnerabilities. It is recommended that users update their installations to the latest version.
http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-03.html

Additionally, the Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) announced the release of the BIND 9.6.1-P3 security patch to address two cache poisoning vulnerabilities, both of which could allow a validating recursive nameserver to cache data which had not been authenticated or was invalid. This patch targets nameservers that have DNSSEC validation enabled, which could potentially provide responses from unauthenticated records within the cache.
http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=8029