Context Security

Received an email this morning notifying me that SANS OnDemand is running a special for the month of March.  20% off of any SANS OnDemand class.  As an added bonus, you could have me as your OnDemand Virtual Mentor (ODVM)

Please feel free to leave a comment or email me at seth combined with this domain name.

Seth Misenar

Here is the text of the email, which includes the discount code of  STS_OD

To help you with your training needs, SANS is offering a Spring Training
Special on ALL courses in our extensive SANS OnDemand online course
library. Register and pay now through Thursday March 26th, 2009 and
receive a 20% discount on ANY SANS OnDemand course! Register at
http://www.sans.org/info/40138 and use the discount code "STS_OD".

For group or multi-course training needs, save an additional 10% on our
already discounted SANS OnDemand Flex Passes through March 26, 2009.
Check it out at http://www.sans.org/info/40133.

Not sure online training is for you?  Try any of our OnDemand course
demos at http://www.sans.org/info/40123.

With SANS OnDemand, students receive:
 * 4-months access to our 24/7 online training and assessment system
 * Full set of course books and hands-on CDs
 * Synchronized online courseware and lectures
 * Integrated assessment quizzes throughout the course
 * Access to OnDemand Virtual Mentors
 * Labs & hands-on exercises
 * Progress Reports

In today's economy, travel budgets are very tight and even justifying
money for critical training can be difficult.  Many students have found
SANS OnDemand online training and assessment as a great alternative.  It
allows you to receive the same high quality SANS training while saving
100% of your travel costs.  Furthermore, it allows you to learn without
leaving home or the office. You can train anytime, anywhere!

Check out what a few of our students say about SANS OnDemand...

 "I got more out of this course than I had with any of the other SANS
 classes that I participated in. The quizzes at the end of each
 presentation helped reinforce the information presented.  I couldn't
 fake it.  I had to know it and retain it." - Richard Gancze, OCI

 "It was like having the teacher right there. Having each piece of the
 lecture broken up into little pieces helped me retain the information.
 You guys did an outstanding job creating this program." - Robert
 Urbanowicz, Parkway Insurance Company

 "I have several GIAC certs. My highest exam scores are from when I use
 OnDemand training." - Brad Fulton, SMS Data Products

If you have any questions about SANS OnDemand, write to
ondemand@sans.org or call us at (301)654-7267.

And remember that every SANS OnDemand purchase earns you points towards
future OnDemand training! http://www.sans.org/info/40128

Be sure to tell your friends and colleagues about this great opportunity!

Kind Regards,

Kimie Cabreira
Director
SANS OnDemand

SANS Protecting Your Web Apps: Two Big Mistakes and 12 Practical Tips to Avoid Them

Not sure when this was released, but I am sure that it was pretty recently.  From the title I wasn’t really expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised by the clarity with which the tips were explained.  Frank Kim and Ed Skoudis co-authored this pithy 6 page paper.

Here is the description from the SANS Reading Room:

Many web application vulnerabilities are a direct result of improper input validation and output filtering, which leads to numerous kinds of attacks, including cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, command injection, buffer overflows and many others. This article describes some of the best defenses against such attacks, which every Web application developer should master.

This offering looks to be part of a new series from SANS entitled, Working Papers in Application Security. I am looking forward to future papers if they are written as lucidly as this one.

Good work, Frank and Ed.

Here is the link to get the document: http://www.sans.org/reading_room/application_security/protecting_web_apps.pdf

Below is information regarding a webcast I will be leading for SANS on 03/18/2009 at 10 AM EST.  Should be fun.

Build Your Own Army of Darkness: XSS Frameworks for Zombies and Profit

Featuring: Seth Misenar

In this preview to the newly updated SEC542 Web Application Penetration Testing course being offered in Amsterdam, you will learn how build and control your very own zombie battalion/Army of Darkness. The discussion will start with a whizz|bang overview of the new 6 day version of SEC542, and quickly move to XSS Frameworks and, of course, zombies galore. Whether you are excited or petrified by the prospect of zombies, join Seth Misenar for this hour long webcast. As Bruce Campbell/Ash of Evil Dead fame would say, “Groovy”.

Speaker Bios:

Seth Misenar:

When not watching zombie films, Seth Misenar serves as Founder/Lead Consultant for Context Security, which provides information security though leadership, independent research, security training, and security consulting services. His background includes network and web application penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, regulatory compliance efforts, security architecture design, as well as general security consulting. He has previously served as both a physical and network security consultant for Fortune 100 companies as well as the HIPAA and Information Security Officer for a state government agency.

In his former life, Seth received a B.S. in Philosophy from Millsaps College where he was twice selected for a Ford Teaching Fellowship. Also, Seth is no stranger to certifications and thus far has achieved credentials which include, but are not limited to, the following: CISSP, GSEC, GCIA, GCIH, GCWN, GCFA, GHTQ, GWAS, and MCSE credentials. He has previously taught numerous SANS classes including SEC401: Security Essentials, SEC504: Hacker Techniques, and SEC542: Web Application Penetration Testing. In addition to serving SANS in an teaching capacity, Seth also serves as both Virtual Mentor and Technical Director for SANS OnDemand.

Thought some of you might be interested…

Ed Skoudis (of InGuardians and SANS 504/517/560 fame) twitted about the release of 3 new cheat sheets this morning.  The sheets are hosted on SANS website and links to them can be found on InGuardians (http://www.inguardians.com/pubs/articles.html).

Here is the description from InGuardians:

“Ed Skoudis releases 3 new cheat sheets for the most useful Windows command-line tools, Netcat, and other useful attack tools (Metasploit, Fgdump, and Hping). Get ‘em while their hot!”

Links:
Netcat: http://www.sans.org/resources/sec560/netcat_cheat_sheet_v1.pdf

Windows command line: http://www.sans.org/resources/sec560/windows_command_line_sheet_v1.pdf

Metasploit, Fgdump, Hping, etc.: http://www.sans.org/resources/sec560/misc_tools_sheet_v1.pdf

Seth Misenar

Stumbled upon AWLG over at Darknet: http://www.darknet.org.uk/2009/01/the-associative-word-list-generator-awlg-create-related-wordlists-for-password-cracking/

This seems to follow nicely with the previous post referencing, CeWL.  Also dovetails nicely with me currently listening to Day 4: Password Attacks of SANS 560: Network Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking …

So what does AWLG do?

“The Associative Word List Generator (AWLG) is a tool that generates a list of words relevant to some subjects, by scouring the Internet in an automated fashion.”

The about page indicates that MySpace pages, Wikipedia articles, etc. are searched.  That etc. is pretty important, but it is a fun tool to play around with.  Although the same Darknet article makes mention also of Wyd, but I think AWLG is a nice addition as you don’t have to have already downloaded the files to be searched, and can instead rely on internet search engines.  Likewise this tool has some facility beyond CeWL also, again because you don’t have to already know where the associated content can be found.  All in all a nice addition to my kit.

Also worth mentioning is that the stated privacy policy for AWLG to “not record any transmitted search strings or user information”

Definitely check out the cute stick figure animated explanation of AWLG – pretty funny: http://www.awlg.org/whatis.gen

Full disclosure: I serve as a Technical Director and Virtual Mentor for SANS OnDemand (as well as Community SANS Instructor in general).

SANS OnDemand online training has extended the 25% off discount promotion that was being run at the end of 2008.  This is one of the steepest discounts I’ve seen for SANS training of any kind.  In the current economy, training without travel can certainly be amenable to those signing the checks for ongoing education.

This is, of course, a limited time deal.  You must register before 01/22/2009.

Use discount code: ODEY_08E

Please let me know if you have any questions about SANS training in general or SANS OnDemand in particular.

http://www.sans.org/ondemand/

SANS posted their log management survey the other day.  If you/your company deals with enterprise log management, then please participate in the survey.  Results will be detailed in April at SANS Log Management and Analysis Summit in DC (http://www.sans.org/logmgtsummit09/).

Here is the link to the survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=FCwjvfHzkGml4stgnYQ7rg_3d_3d

Ed Skoudis sent a tweet yesterday announcing the immediate availability of his presentation from SANS CDI: Secrets of America’s Top Pen Testers. Obviously you will not get the full effect without Ed’s contagious excitement, but the 38 slides do stand on their own well. He is quick to point out (via the subtitle) that he did not name the presentation…

10 nicely presented tips (with Ed’s signature black hat red screened goodnes) at no charge…

http://www.inguardians.com/research/docs/Skoudis_pentestsecrets.pdf

Just received an email pitching the Community SANS SEC560 course that I will teaching in February 2009.  Glad I opened and read it, as I was informed that I will be giving a one hour webcast on 2009 Trends in Network Security.  Good to know

Here are the details:

SANS would like to give you a free sample of the training you will receive from the Community SANS Atlanta event.  On Wednesday, January 14, we will host a free one hour webcast delivered by Community SANS instructor Seth Misenar entitled “2009 Trends in Network Security”.  To register for this free webcast, please email community@sans.org and we will provide you with the registration details.

As always, please feel free to use my discount code, COINS-SM, for an upto an additional 15% off the cost of this or any Community SANS class.

In my role as Technical Director for SANS OnDemand, I will now be providing a monthly “article” (or at least some security oriented content) to the new SANS OnDemand Newsletters…  The first Newsletter is below:

************************************************************************
SECURITY TIMES SPECIAL

As a thank you for receiving our SANS OnDemand Security Times
Newsletter, you may take an additional 5% off our listed current
specials through December 26.

For single courses, see http://www.sans.org/info/35939 for our current
offer. Use discount code “T1_add5″ for a total of 30% off any OnDemand
course.

For groups or multiple courses, take an additional 5% off our lowest
listed pricing at http://www.sans.org/info/35944.

Check out our Free OnDemand Demos at http://www.sans.org/info/35949
************************************************************************
WHAT’S UPCOMING?

For courses currently being developed in OnDemand, take advantage of our
30% Development Discount.  For a full list of upcoming courses, go to
http://www.sans.org/info/35954
************************************************************************
EARN REWARDS POINTS

Receive one OnDemand Reward Point for every dollar that you spend for
SANS OnDemand training, including the OnDemand Bundle.  To begin
receiving reward points, visit http://www.sans.org/info/35959
************************************************************************
SECURITY TIP

Whether you are a small Mom & Pop shop or a multinational corporation,
your employees are almost certainly leveraging sites with user generated
content.  User generated content sites (e.g. Myspace, Youtube, Facebook,
Craigslist, Blogger, and Flickr) are routinely in the top 20 most
visited websites.

From a numbers perspective, it goes without saying that your
employees/colleagues/superiors, and likely you, are users of these
popular sites.  Although the most obvious risk posed by employee usage
of these sites is productivity loss [1], perhaps the more serious risk
is posed by the break-neck speed with which these sites are allowing
active user generated content and applications to flourish [2][3].
Therein lies part of the appeal, but so too, some of the risks. In order
for these sites to be useful, users configure their browsers to allow
this content to run virtually unfettered.  However, the risk posed by
active content isn’t the point of this article either [4]…

A somewhat less discussed “feature” of sites containing user generated
content is the significant information disclosure posed by users from
your organization.  Imagine, if you will, that you were being targeted
by an attacker.  Of course, _you_ aren’t being targeted, but just bear
with me… Perhaps you have really done a bang up job hardening your
perimeter, patching systems, etc., such that you feel relatively secure
in your overall security program and architecture.  If an attacker could
find a trusted insider that was willing to disclose details regarding
the products, programming languages, patch levels, etc., in use at your
organization, could it subvert some of those feelings of security?  In
effect, social networking sites are a veritable treasure trove for
attackers wishing to gain this type of intelligence.  What’s more,
sometimes they are able to gain this information without engaging in
even the most rudimentary of social engineering attacks.  For instance,
users with profiles on LinkedIn frequently list their resume, including
both specialties and employers, for the world to see.  This and other
information is like gold to an attacker. This type of information,
coupled with attackers armed with information mining tools like Maltego
(i.e., Rapleaf and Spock transforms) can really lower the bar for a
successful targeted attack [5].

Now that the little thought experiment is over, let’s think about the
primary assumption – you are being targeted by an attacker.  Some of you
fully accept this as a given, but most of you likely dismiss this
without much thought (we are too small, no one has heard of us, why
would anyone come after us).  Well, consider that restaurants in West
Monroe, LA (pop. 12,951)[6] were part of a group of restaurants in
Mississippi and Louisiana targeted by a ring of thieves harvesting
credit card numbers [7].  If something as innocuous as a family owned
diner can be targeted for an attack, then certainly any organization can
become a likely target.

The risks associated with websites, in general, and social networking
sites, in particular, are discussed in several SANS courses available
via OnDemand (AUD507, MGT512, SEC401 and SEC502).  The social
engineering and reconnaissance exposure made possible by these sites is
explored in SEC560.

For more info on these courses, visit:
AUD507: Auditing Networks, Perimeters & Systems
(http://www.sans.org/link.php?id=1032&mid=6)
MGT512: SANS Security Leadership Essentials For Managers
(http://www.sans.org/link.php?id=1032&mid=62)
SEC401: SANS Security Essentials
(http://www.sans.org/link.php?id=1032&mid=61)
SEC502: Perimeter Protection In-Depth
(http://www.sans.org/link.php?id=1032&mid=17)
SEC560: Network Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking
(http://www.sans.org/link.php?id=1032&mid=937)

Seth Misenar
SANS OnDemand Virtual Mentor

1: “Facebook ‘costs businesses dear’ ” -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6989100.stm
2:  More than 33,000 Facebook applications -
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/23/BU7C11TAES.DTL
3:  More than 400,000 registered Facebook developers -
http://www.facebook.com/press/releases.php?p=48242
4: “Elaborate Facebook Worm Spreading” -
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/07/elaborate–facebook-worm-virus-spreading/
5: “Maltego Part I – Intro and Personal Recon” -
http://www.ethicalhacker.net/content/view/202/24/
6: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 Population Estimates -
http://factfinder.census.gov
7: “Attacks Continue on Retail Stores, Restaurants” -
http://www.darkreading.com/security/perimeter/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=211201193