[ISN] Security UPDATE -- WPA2 and WSP IE for Windows XP SP2 -- May 11, 2005

InfoSec News isn at c4i.org
Fri May 13 07:08:05 EDT 2005


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Integrated Help Desk Services Lead to Greater IT Productivity
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1. In Focus: WPA2 and WSP IE for Windows XP SP2

2. Security News and Features
   - Recent Security Vulnerabilities
   - SANS Reports Most Dangerous Vulnerabilities for Q1 2005
   - Sobering Worm Inundates Inboxes

3. Security Toolkit
   - Security Matters Blog
   - FAQ
   - Security Forum Featured Thread

4. New and Improved
   - Server Monitoring Service

====================

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==== 1. In Focus: WPA2 and WSP IE for Windows XP SP2 ====
   by Mark Joseph Edwards, News Editor, mark at ntsecurity / net

If you use wireless networking in your environment, you'll be 
interested to learn that Microsoft has released an update to improve 
wireless network security for users of Windows XP with Service Pack 2 
(SP2). The update enhances the XP wireless client software with support 
for Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), which according to the Wi-Fi 
Alliance "is based on the final IEEE 802.11i amendment to the 802.11 
standard and is eligible for FIPS 140-2 compliance." 
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=990D:4FB69

WPA2 offers much stronger security than Wireless Equivalent Privacy 
(WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). WEP has long been known to be 
vulnerable. I've read at least one account in which a WEP connection 
was cracked in only a few minutes. The successor to WEP, WPA, isn't as 
easy to crack as WPA, and the new WPA2 standard offers even better 
security. The Wi-Fi Alliance said the primary difference between WPA 
and WPA2 is that WPA2 uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to 
encrypt network traffic and WPA uses the Rivest Cipher 4 (RC-4) 
algorithm.

WPA2 Personal supports preshared keys, and WPA2 Enterprise uses 802.1x 
authentication with the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). Like 
WPA, WPA2 facilitates roaming access between wireless Access Points 
(APs). Several manufacturers already make WPA2-certified APs and 
wireless NICs, and many provide WPA2 hardware and drivers that work 
with several versions of Windows. For example, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, 
Devicescape Software (formerly Instant802 Networks), Intel, and Realtek 
Semiconductor all make WPA2-enabled products that can be used on almost 
any Windows platform. Other vendors make products based on Atheros 
Communications chipsets, which are also WPA2-certified. 

Wireless Provisioning Services Information Element (WPS IE) is also 
included in the update. Some wireless ISPs are moving from unsecured to 
secured networks by implementing 802.1x. As the transitions take place, 
ISPs can configure their APs to broadcast one Service Set Identifier 
(SSID) for the unsecured network and another SSID for the secure 
network. The SSIDs for the secured networks aren't visible on systems 
that don't support WPS IE because of the way some APs broadcast Beacon 
and Probe Request frames. WPS IE helps computers recognize both types 
of wireless AP SSIDs.

You can learn more about the new update at the link above. You can also 
learn more about creating secure wireless hotspots in the MSDN Library 
article "Securing Public Wi-Fi Hotspots" at
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=98F4:4FB69

Microsoft TechNet also has a new Cable Guy column, "Wi-Fi Protected 
Access 2 (WPA2) Overview." The column explains WPA2 in a fair amount of 
detail, including key caching, fast roaming, pre-authentication, and 
more. 
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=98FD:4FB69

In addition, Microsoft maintains links to numerous other wireless-
related articles on its Windows Server 2003 Wi-Fi Web site. 
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=98F7:4FB69

A new white paper, "Deploying Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2 in 
the Enterprise," is available in PDF format at The Wi-Fi Alliance's Web 
site (first URL below). A 60-minute presentation, "Wi-Fi Protected 
Access: Locking Down the Link," by Michael Disabato of the Burton 
Group, reviews WEP, WPA, WPA2, implementation, and more and is also 
available at the Wi-Fi Alliance Web site (second URL below). 
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=98FC:4FB69
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=9903:4FB69

====

In the Web chat "Reality Check: What to Expect with Windows Server 2003 
Service Pack 1," Michael Otey will answer your questions about Windows 
Firewall, Data Execution Prevention (DEP), boot-time protection, the 
Security Configuration Wizard (SCW), and much more. Thursday, May 12, 
12:00 noon Eastern (9:00 A.M. Pacific).
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==== 2. Security News and Features ====

Recent Security Vulnerabilities
   If you subscribe to this newsletter, you also receive Security 
Alerts, which inform you about recently discovered security 
vulnerabilities. You can also find information about these 
discoveries at
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=9902:4FB69

SANS Reports Most Dangerous Vulnerabilities for Q1 2005
   SANS released a list of what it considers the most dangerous 
vulnerabilities discovered in first quarter 2005. Affected products 
include multiple Microsoft products; Computer Associates' License 
software; multiple Oracle servers; media players Nullsoft Winamp, Apple 
Computer's iTunes Music Store, and RealNetworks' RealPlayer (and 
Microsoft Windows Media Player); antivirus products from Symantec, 
Trend Micro, and McAfee; and DNS services in Symantec security products 
(and Windows OSs).
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=9905:4FB69

Sobering Worm Inundates Inboxes
   The latest incarnation of the Sober worm is inundating inboxes in 
some countries with an enticement to win tickets to the World Cup 
soccer tournament in Germany. The email message that carries the worm 
(known as Sober.N, Sober.O, Sober.P, Sober.S, or Sober.V, depending on 
which antivirus vendor database you check) could also have a different 
message subject and content. 
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Take the Hack IIS 6.0 challenge now!
   Follow along as industry guru Roger Grimes puts IIS 6.0 to the test. 
The first hacker to succeed will win an Xbox.
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Get Ready for SQL Server 2005 Roadshow in a U.S. City Near You--and in 
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====================

==== 3. Security Toolkit ==== 

Security Matters Blog: 20 Security Fixes for Mac OS X
   by Mark Joseph Edwards, http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=990C:4FB69

   Got Mac? If you do, check Apple Computing's download site to see if 
you need to install the latest security update. The company released 
Security Update 2005-005 for Mac OS X 10.3.9 (client and server 
editions), which contains 20 security fixes.
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=9908:4FB69

FAQ
   by John Savill, http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=9909:4FB69 

Q: How can I create a Microsoft Office 2003 installation source that 
has an integrated service pack and hotfixes?

Find the answer at
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Security Forum Featured Thread: Guest User Password Required
   A forum participant writes that he has a Windows 2000-based mixed-
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domain level. If not, how can he set the local policies on each system 
without having to physically visit each computer? Join the discussion 
at
   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=98FB:4FB69

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