Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Security Bugs Microsoft

    By
    Dennis Fisher
    -
    April 23, 2001
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      It seems Microsoft Corp. cant shake its problems with security. Having formally announced earlier this month that it had rededicated itself to building security into its products, Microsoft last week was dealt an embarrassing blow when a vulnerability was discovered in its first stand-alone security product.

      Although the Redmond, Wash., company quickly issued a patch for the DoS (denial-of-service) bug in the Internet Security and Acceleration Server, the fact remains that many CIOs and IT managers are fed up with regression errors in Microsoft patches—so much so that theyve stopped installing them altogether, preferring to take their chances with a vulnerable system, according to Steve Gibson, of Gibson Research Corp., in Laguna Hills, Calif.

      Microsofts problems highlight the larger issue of mainstream vendors getting into the security business: While there is plenty of demand for security products, and therefore a lot of money to be made, creating the products is no simple task.

      “All of these vendors are waking up to the fact that theres money to be made in security, but it seems like a real mistake for a company that isnt committed to security to get into this,” said Gibson, who recently surveyed a group of Fortune 100 CIOs, many of whom said they had quit installing Microsoft patches due to continued security problems with them.

      Microsofts ISA Server problem is not a good start for a company that was hoping to muscle its way into security. The ISA Server, launched in February, was touted as an enterprise-class firewall and proxy server and the security foundation of the companys .Net platform.

      Last week, however, a Canadian security company announced that the ISA Server is vulnerable to a remote DoS attack under certain conditions. Although the attack does not allow the intruder access to the network, it does shut down the Web Proxy service, denying access to legitimate users.

      Specifically, if an attacker sends a series of long Web commands to the Web Proxy service on the ISA Server, the service will fail and disrupt all incoming and outgoing traffic to the server.

      In order for an attacker to exploit the vulnerability remotely, the Web Publishing service would have to be enabled.

      To be sure, Microsoft is far from the only mainstream vendor to encounter problems when it ventures into the security market. Cisco Systems Inc.s PIX firewalls have suffered from a string of problems; the most recent was a DoS vulnerability in the 515 and 520 models, discovered this month.

      Despite the problems these vendors have faced, some security professionals said they believe its still ultimately the customers responsibility to ensure the security of their networks.

      “If theres a security patch, and youre not testing it and putting it into production, then you deserve to have your system compromised,” said a security administrator, who asked to remain anonymous. “As we get into software with millions of lines of code, there will be many more risks. Its our job as security professionals to keep up with those risks and keep our proprietary information just that—proprietary.”

      Dennis Fisher

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×