Resources
Publications
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Top Threats to Cloud Computing V1.0
Abstract: The purpose of this document is to provide needed context to assist organizations in making educated risk management decisions regarding their cloud adoption strategies. In essence, this threat research document should be seen as a companion to "Security Guidance for Critial Areas in Cloud Computing." As the first deliverable in the CSA's Cloud Threat Initiative, this document will be updated regularly to reflect expert consensus on the probable threats that customers should be concerned about.
IOActive's President and founder, Joshua Pennell, is a member of the CSA's advisory committee.
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Improving RoI by Using an SDL
Abstract: How to improve return on investment by implementing a secure development lifecycle—the paper provides a brief introduction to SDLs then explains how implementing an SDL can save your organization money, and concludes with a discussion of how threat modeling and penetration testing complement SDLs.
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Security Guidance for Critical Areas of Focus in Cloud Computing
Contributing Editors: Josh Pennell and Ward Spangenberg
Abstract: What follows is our initial report, outlining areas of concern and guidance for organizations adopting cloud computing. The intention is to provide security practitioners with a comprehensive roadmap for being proactive in developing positive and secure relationships with cloud providers. Much of this guidance is also quite relevant to the cloud provider to improve the quality and security of their service offerings. As with any initial foray, there certainly will be guidance that we can improve, and we will likely modify the number of domains and change the focus of some areas of concern. We seek your help to improve this guidance and make version 2.0 an even better asset to the security practitioner and cloud provider.
View the document here. (.pdf)
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24 Deadly Sins of Software Security: Programming Flaws and How to Fix Them
Mentioned: Richard van Eeden
Abstract: Fully updated to cover the latest security issues, 24 Deadly Sins of Software Security reveals the most common design and coding errors and explains how to fix each one—or better yet, avoid them from the start. Michael Howard and David LeBlanc, who teach Microsoft employees and the world how to secure code, have partnered again with John Viega, who uncovered the original 19 deadly programming sins. They have completely revised the book to address the most recent vulnerabilities and have added five brand-new sins. This practical guide covers all platforms, languages, and types of applications.
Order the book from Amazon here.
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Black Ops of PKI Black Hat USA 2009
Author: Dan Kaminsky
Abstract: Research unveiled in December of 2008 showed how MD5's long-known flaws could be actively exploited to attack the real-world Certification Authority infrastructure. This August 2009 presentation demonstrates two new collision classes: the applicability of MD2 preimage attacks against the primary root certificate for VeriSign and the difficulty of validating X.509 Names contained within PKCS#10 Certificate Requests. It also calls out two possibly unrecognized vectors for implementation flaws that have been problematic in the past: the ASN.1 BER decoder required to parse PKCS#10 and the potential for SQL injection from text contained within its requests. The implications of these attacks are larger than some have realized—first, because Client Authentication is sometimes tied to X.509 and second, because Extended Validation certificates were only intended to stop phishing attacks from names similar to trusted brands. As per the work of Adam Barth and Collin Jackson, EV does not, in fact, prevent an attacker who can synthesize or acquire a "low assurance" certificate for a given name from acquiring the "green bar" EV experience.
Listen to the talk: Black Hat talk
Download the slides: PowerPoint presentation
Suporting information—with authors Len Sassaman and Meredith Patterson: -
PCI Compliance in the Cloud: What are the Risks?
Author: Ward Spangenberg
Abstract: Cloud computing and virtualization are creating a noticeable buzz across the IT space. As the market puts pressure on companies to increase productivity and decrease capital investments, solutions like distributed computing are attractive options for management to consider. This paper introduces some risks and gives an overview of cloud computing. Download the PDF
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A Risk-based Approach to Determining ESPs and CCAs
Abstract: To mitigate the possibility of one computer virus crippling an entire region's transportation, emergency services, and power, the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection Standards (CIPS) requirements 002–009 describe the cyber security standards with which bulk electric power providers must comply. As part of this compliance effort, power providers must identify their Critical Cyber Assets (CCA) and applicable corresponding Electronic Security Perimeters (ESP). This document provides a detailed methodology for determining ESPs and CCAs. Download the PDF
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Thoughts on the Microsoft SDL
Abstract: Using a Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL) is an important practice because it produces more secure software from the start and saves money in the long term. SDL is a software development lifecycle with security milestones and processes built into your overall software development methodology. The goal of an SDL is not only to produce more secure software, but to reduce the overall lifetime cost of software development projects due to the need for security bug fixes. Download the PDF
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Exploitation in the "New" WIN32 Environment
Author: Walter Pearce
Abstract: With the release of Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2003, Win32 auditing, exploitation and research became far more complex. Data Execution Protection, a host of new security measures within the compilers, and the .NET Framework's implications on development as a whole all signaled the end of "simple" core system exploits. This paper focuses on these architecture changes—which were made to prevent exploitation of win32 processes—and how to break them. It reiterates what the author learned about general Win32 exploitation and provides detailed techniques to evade stack protections in Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2003. Download the PDF
