Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report, December 8, 2013 | IT Conference | IT Conferences

Guest column by Citadel Information Group

Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report

The following software vulnerabilities and updates were announced last week. Citadel Information Group strongly recommends that readers update their computers and take other action as indicated.

Cyber Alert – Password Theft Discovered – Time to Change

As we reported in this week’s Cyber Security News, Trustwave’s SpiderLabs recently discovered a botnet server with about 2 million stolen Internet passwords. Stolen passwords included those for Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo, LinkedIn and payroll provider ADP.

Prudence dictates users should change their passwords on these sites. This is particularly true for companies using ADP.

For guidance in creating strong passwords, see our blog post Three Rules for Password Sanity.

Important Security Updates

Apple Remote Desktop: Apple released updates to it’s Remote Desktop Client, Admin and Dashboard Widget. Updates are available on Apple’s website.

Google Chrome: Google released version 31.0.1650.63 of Chrome to fix at least 7 highly critical vulnerabilities. Updates are available through the browser.

Current Software Versions
Adobe Flash 11.9.900.152 [Windows 7: IE9, Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, Opera]
Adobe Flash 11.9.900.152 [Windows 8: IE]
Adobe Flash 11.9.900.152 [Macintosh OS X: Firefox, Opera, Safari]

Adobe Reader 11.0.05

Dropbox 2.4.7 [Citadel warns against relying on Dropbox security. We recommend files containing sensitive information be independently encrypted with a program like Axcrypt; encryption keys be at least 15 characters long; and the Dropbox password be at least 15 characters long and different from other passwords.]

Firefox 25.0.1 [Windows]

Google Chrome 31.0.1650.63

Internet Explorer 11.0.9600.16428 [Windows 7: IE]
Internet Explorer 11.0.9600.16384 [Windows 8: IE]

Java SE 7 Update 45 [Citadel recommends removing or disabling Java from your browser. Java is a major source of cyber criminal exploits. It is not needed for most internet browsing. If you have a particular web site that requires Java, Citadel recommends using a two-browser approach to minimize risk. If you normally browse the Web with Firefox, for example, disable the Java plugin in Firefox and use an alternative browser – such as Chrome, IE9, Safari, etc – with Java enabled to browse only the sites that require it.]

QuickTime 7.7.4

Safari 5.1.7 [Windows]
Safari 6.1 [Mac OS X]

Skype 6.11.0.102

Newly Announced Unpatched Vulnerabilities

None

For an updated list of previously announced Unpatched Vulnerabilities, please see the resources section of Citadel’s website.

For Your IT Department

Cisco Multiple Products: Secunia reports that Cisco has released many updates for multiple products, including Cisco Access Control System, IOS XR, IOS XE, Prime Network Registrar and others. Update to 7.1 SP1 and apply Hotfix 134235.

IBM i / OS/400: Secunia reports that IBM has released updates to fix at least 40 vulnerabilities, some highly critical, in a bundled version of IBM Java reported in version V6R1M0. Apply PTF SI51086 or SI51087.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008: Secunia reports an unpatched vulnerability in a fully-patched Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Other versions may also be affected. No official solution is currently available.

Novell Open Enterprise: Secunia reports that Novell has released updates to fix a vulnerability in its Open Enterprise Server. Fixed in rpm novell-nrm-2.0.2-297.305.302.3 included in the OES-May-13 channel updates.

SonicWALL Multiple Products: Secunia reports that SonicWALL has released updates for multiple products to fix a guest privilege escalation vulnerability in ESX Server, ESXi, Fusion, Workstation, and Player. Apply appropriate updates.

VMware ESX Server: Secunia reports that VMware has released a partial fix for ESX Server Service Console to fix two vulnerabilities reported in version 4.0 and 4.1. Apply patch if available.

VMware Multiple Products: Secunia reports that VMware has released updates for multiple products to fix a guest privilege escalation vulnerability. Apply appropriate updates.

If you are responsible for the security of your computer, Citadel’s Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report is for you. We strongly urge you to take action to keep your workstation patched and updated.

If someone else is responsible for the security of your computer, forward our Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report to them and follow up to make sure your computer has been patched and updated.

Vulnerability management is a key element of cyber security management. Cyber criminals take over user computers by writing computer programs that "exploit" vulnerabilities in operating systems (Windows, Apple OS, etc) and application programs (Adobe Acrobat, Office, Flash, Java, etc). When software companies find a vulnerability, they usually issue an update patch to fix the code running in their customer’s computers.

Citadel Information Group publishes our Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report to alert readers to some of the week’s important updates and vulnerabilities. Our focus is on software typically found in the small or home office (SOHO) or that users are likely to have on their home computer. The report is not intended to be a thorough listing of updates and vulnerabilities.

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The IT Summit would like to thank Citadel Information Group for allowing us to provide this information to you.