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September 2014

Patch Tuesday: Time to Lose Your Marbles!

By Patch Management, Patch TuesdayNo Comments

Microsoft’s patches this month are few, but no less important. In fact, critical in one case!

We generally compare two sources of information to understand the impact of Microsoft’s patch updates – Microsoft’s own feed plus information from an independent source, such as US-CERT [United States-Computer Emergency Readiness Team] which uses the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) to asses the potential impact of the IT vulnerabilities. By contrasting two sources of information we can get the real picture of how the vulnerabilities affect your business.

In this latest round, announced last week, we have four updates, MS14-052, MS14-053, MS14-054 and MS14-055. Full details for each below. Now, what’s interesting here is that Microsoft has listed the latter three as Important but by using the CVSS we can actually understand that MS14-055 has a score of 7.8 out of 10. That’s pretty high and, in our experience, anything with a CVSS score that high needs to be urgently prioritised along with the Critical update MS14-052.

What’s the risk?

MS14-055 resolves vulnerabilities, which could allow a denial of service attack against Microsoft Lync Server. This is rightfully a high-scoring ‘Important’ vulnerability that could allow someone to kill the server of a communications tool so vital to the operations of many, many businesses.

As an aside, I like to think of a denial of service attack as a marble in a bucket; the bucket is being used to remove water from a swimming pool. Every time, the bucket is used, another marble finds its way in. Before long, you’re carrying a lot of marbles and not shifting much water! This vulnerability needs resolving – its time to lose your marbles.

MS14-052 has a CVSS score of 9.3. It’s a ‘rollup’ of 36 privately reported vulnerabilities, which affect all versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute remote code. Again, it needs to be resolved.

Next steps 

Right now, we’re looking at the binary code for each patch update and moving towards testing and piloting the updates before deployment to customers. As with all our customers, we’ll be working through our agreed deployment process using Verismic Syxsense for rollout.

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any viewpoints on the patch updates.

Microsoft score
CVSS score
Update no.
Affected software:
Critical security bulletin 9.3 MS14-052 Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2:
– Internet Explorer 6
– Internet Explorer 7
– Internet Explorer 8
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2:
– Internet Explorer 6
– Internet Explorer 7
– Internet Explorer 8
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems:
– Internet Explorer 6
– Internet Explorer 7
Windows Vista Service Pack 2:
– Internet Explorer 7
– Internet Explorer 8
– Internet Explorer 9
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2:
– Internet Explorer 7
– Internet Explorer 8
– Internet Explorer 9
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2:
– Internet Explorer 7
– Internet Explorer 8
– Internet Explorer 9
Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2:
– Internet Explorer 7
– Internet Explorer 8
– Internet Explorer 9
(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2:
– Internet Explorer 7
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1:
– Internet Explorer 8
– Internet Explorer 9
– Internet Explorer 10
– Internet Explorer 11
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1:
– Internet Explorer 8
– Internet Explorer 9
– Internet Explorer 10
– Internet Explorer 11
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1:
– Internet Explorer 8
– Internet Explorer 9
– Internet Explorer 10
– Internet Explorer 11
(Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core installation not affected)
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1:
– Internet Explorer 8
– Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems:
– Internet Explorer 10
– Windows 8 for x64-based Systems:
– Internet Explorer 10
– Windows Server 2012:
– Internet Explorer 10
(Windows Server 2012 Server Core installation not affected)
– Windows RT:
– Internet Explorer 10
– Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems:
– Internet Explorer 11
– Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems:
– Internet Explorer 11
– Windows Server 2012 R2:
– Internet Explorer 11
(Windows Server 2012 R2 Server Core installation not affected)
– Windows RT 8.1:
– Internet Explorer 11
Impact: Remote Code Execution
Version Number: 1.0
Important security bulletin 7.8 MS14-055 – Microsoft Lync Server 2010
– Microsoft Lync Server 2013
– Impact: Denial of Service
– Version Number: 1.0
Important security bulletin 6.8 MS14-054 – Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems
– Windows 8 for x64-based Systems
– Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems
– Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems
– Windows Server 2012
– (Windows Server 2012 Server Core installation affected)
– Windows Server 2012 R2
– (Windows Server 2012 R2 Server Core installation affected)
– Windows RT
– Windows RT 8.1
– Impact: Elevation of Privilege
– Version Number: 1.0
Important security bulletin 4.3 MS14-053 Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1
– Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
– Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
Windows Vista Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
(Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core installation affected)
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4
Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
Windows 8 for x64-based Systems
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1/4.5.2
Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1/4.5.2
Windows Server 2012
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
(Windows Server 2012 Server Core installation affected)
Windows Server 2012 R2
– Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1/4.5.2
(Windows Server 2012 R2 Server Core installation affected)
Windows RT
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5/4.5.1/4.5.2
Windows RT 8.1
– Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1/4.5.2
– Impact: Denial of Service
– Version Number: 1.0
Showing 1 to 4 of 4 entries
September 16, 2014
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Verismic Launches Remote Control Capabilities For Its Agentless, Cloud-Based Endpoint Management Solution

By NewsNo Comments

New Syxsense Feature Allows IT Support Staff to Initiate Endpoint Support More Simply, Quickly and from Anywhere—Reducing Complexities of Organizational IT Management

 

PRLog – Sep. 11, 2014 – ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — Verismic—a global leader in cloud IT management technology and green solutions focused on providing cutting-edge products to organizations of all sizes as well as managed service providers (MSPs)—today announced the launch of Remote Control for its revolutionary Syxsense—an agentless, cloud-based endpoint management solution launched earlier this year and already transforming the way IT professionals engage in IT management.

CMS allows IT departments to focus on managing their IT environments by reducing time-intensive, mundane tasks and eliminating dependencies on cumbersome and unreliable management tools. The solution’s new remote control feature further simplifies systems management as it doesn’t require users to actively download permanent plugins, snap-ins, viewers or additional software code, as with competitor services, and can actively control an end user PC in seconds.

“Verismic’s launch of Remote Control for CMS supports our mission to provide high-value, low-cost systems management from the cloud,” says Verismic President, Ashley Leonard. “Although there are services in the remote control marketplace that work over the Internet, in nearly all cases additional plugins or viewers are required by the user, for each PC. This is additional complexity drains support desk time for the user and, in the long-term and creates a new layer of software to manage and maintain.”

Many traditional remote control tools also require the management console and end-user device to be on the same network, which is not suitable or realistic for modern, disparate teams, and does not help MSPs, who frequently sit outside the firewall.

Syxsense’s Remote Control requires only a modern HTML5 web browser and a ‘dissolvable’ target user device, to take near-instant remote control of end-user Windows PCs and laptops. This makes the endpoint support experience more efficient as the helpdesk team or MSP will need only to click the end-user device in Syxsense’s website; and the service will then push a small piece of code to the user device to connect the service. At the end of the session, the code will automatically dissolve.

CMS’s new remote control capabilities are compatible with PCs using Internet Explorer 10 or later, Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari. MSPs and helpdesk staff can provide support from a mobile device or tablet PC. The additional feature is available for all existing and new customers at exactly the same price: $3 per device, per month.

For more information on Syxsense and other innovative Verismic solutions, visitwww.syxsense.com.

ABOUT VERISMIC: Verismic Software, Inc. is a global industry leader providing cloud-based IT management technology and green solutions focused on enabling greater efficiency, cost-savings and security control for users, all while engaging in endpoint management. Headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., Verismic is a growing and dynamic organization with offices in four countries and 12 partners in nine countries. Over the past two years, Verismic has worked with more than 150 companies ranging from 30 to 35,000 endpoints delivering a variety of solutions for organizations of all sizes as well as managed service providers (MSPs). Verismic’s software portfolio includes the first-of-its-kind agentless,Syxsense ; Power Manager; Software Packaging and Password Reset. For more information, visit www.verismic.com.

Media Contact
Leslie Licano, Beyond Fifteen Communications
[email protected]


— End —

September 11, 2014
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InformationWeek.com|Information Week article

HealthCare.gov Breach: The Ripple Effect

By NewsNo Comments

Hackers breached a HealthCare.gov test server, reportedly affecting no records, but the repercussions could spread across many medical organizations.

Thursday’s disclosure that hackers breached a HealthCare.gov test server this summer sparked more concern about the overall vulnerability of healthcare organizations and hope that the growing number of publicly disclosed hacks will encourage those organizations to expend more resources on securing data, networks, and systems.

A hacker installed malicious code on a device that had kept its default manufacturer’s password. As a test server, it was not supposed to be hooked to the Internet, said Patrick Peterson, founder and CEO of security developer Agari in an interview. Either keeping the server unconnected or using tools that automatically change pre-set passwords would have prevented this vulnerability, he said. Because it shared the breach, HealthCare.gov should be lauded for its transparency, said Peterson.

This type of error is easily preventable, but is the kind of mistake that can occur at most organizations without proper training and IT management, said Ashley Leonard, president and CEO of Verismic Software:

I am sure it is unnerving for the public when our government’s own systems get compromised by hacking. This, on top of the recent celebrity hacking, creates a distrust in cloud. However, if you look more closely at what has actually happened, systems are being penetrated by a combination of bad IT management and poor end-user training. I believe IT managers and software vendors need a better way to share information on vulnerabilities and how to patch them. The second concern is passwords; though passwords are set to protect our most sensitive data, we have a real issue today of using technology much older than most of us. At the very least we should be moving to pass phrases, two-factor authentication, or biometrics to protect our data.

Although federal officials were quick to reassure the public that no personal, financial, or health data was stolen, a chorus of dissent arose immediately given the amount of information HealthCare.gov houses and the number of alarms raised about the site’s security weaknesses.

“IT experts have long warned about the lack of security built into the federal Obamacare website,” said Congressman Diane Black (R-Tenn.), in a statement. “The vast amount of personal information that Americans are required to put into this site is an open invitation for hackers. That is why designing a secure website should have been a top priority for this Administration.”

Information Week article

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While politicians battle it out in Washington, D.C., CIOs and chief security officers might find it easier to wrest security funds from reluctant boards and CEOs. That can’t happen soon enough, based on the industry’s ongoing poor performance when compared with other sectors.

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September 8, 2014
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