microsoft
Report a problem

Experts: Don't blame Microsoft for mass site defacements

Steven Parker   on 29 April 2008 - 10:38 · 3 comments & 4018 views

Advertisement (Why?)
Progress was made Monday in mitigating thousands of SQL-based Web sites injected with malicious javascript code. However, one security expert says we can expect more such attacks in the near future. A traditional SQL injection attack allows malicious attackers to execute commands on an application's database by injecting executable code. "What's different about this latest attack is the size and the level of sophistication," said Jeremiah Grossman, CTO of White Hat Security.

On Friday, Microsoft denied that new vulnerabilities within Internet Information Services are to blame for a rash of Web site defacements. Microsoft insists it's the application developer's responsibility to follow the company's best practices. These include constraining and sanitizing input data, using type-safe SQL parameters for data access, and restricting account permissions in the database.

Grossman agreed it's not Microsoft's fault, and said the attacks could have easily targeted another vendor's software. If users surf to an SQL-injected site, their browser will attempt to download a variety of exploits, not all of which are Microsoft-based. One site from the Shadowserver Foundation lists exploits affecting Real and other vendors alongside various Microsoft Security bulletins.

View: Full Article @ CNet News.com

Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 3 additional comments
(2 replies) #1 Skwerl on 29 Apr 2008 - 15:21
Any guesses as to how many bloggers and journalists that wrote all this up as an IIS vulnerability look like a$$es now?
#1.1 RealFduch on 29 Apr 2008 - 16:12
(Skwerl said @ #1)
Any guesses as to how many bloggers and journalists that wrote all this up as an IIS vulnerability look like a$$es now?

They look like a$$es only to people with brains. But lots of people don't have them.
#1.2 vetmarkjensen on 29 Apr 2008 - 20:34
Yeah, a lot of people made the jump to "Windows/ISS/MSSQL sites hacked" to "Windows/ISS/MSSQL have had flaws exploited".

Most of these "hackings" are because of poor admins that don't keep updated, or other poor security issues (bad passwords and such). This is regardless of platform.

Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!

Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.

Advertisement (Why?)