Jay,
You state I have not looked at this. I guess you have not looked at the threads
from a year ago, and from before that and etc. This topic raises its ugly head
from time to time when someone gets the idea that it is the great new thing.
If there alread is a password or similar, portknocking adds no value. The
economic cost to the user is less then the gain. That is a loss. All
improveemtns are bound on a gain/loss function. Limited resources equal limited
places to put our effort and money.
You posted this not for the benifit of those that are truly trying to learn
security basics, but yourself. As I stated, change the TCP flag options in all
packets and you have gained as much (maybe more) then portknocking. It is a
script kiddy toy designed to hide listening trojans. It is not a security tool
and you are not helpiong those who do not know a lot about security by adding
FUD to their knowledge.
Regards,
Dr Craig Wright (GSE-Compliance)
Craig Wright
Manager of Information Systems
Direct : +61 2 9286 5497
Craig.Wright@bdo.com.au
+61 417 683 914
BDO Kendalls (NSW)
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________________________________________
From: listbounce@securityfocus.com [listbounce@securityfocus.com] On Behalf Of
Jay [jay.tomas@infosecguru.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 1 January 2008 4:49 AM
To: bugtraq@planetcobalt.net; security-basics@securityfocus.com
Subject: Re: Port-Knocking vulnerabilities?
Is portknocking a weaker security mechanism. Does that discount it completely.
Telnet and ftp our clear text. Just because something can be defeated doesn't
mean it loses 'all' its classification
A door is meant to provide some defense to the outside of your house. I can
certainly bash it in with a sledge hammer. It still serves its purpose as a
layer of the defense.
Again we are talking about security basics here. You can say it isn't viable or
is inherently weak. But the way it is implemented its used for authentication.
Plain and simple.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers [mailto:bugtraq@planetcobalt.net]
To: security-basics@securityfocus.com
Sent: Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:28:53 +0100
Subject: Re: Port-Knocking vulnerabilities?
On 2007-12-28 Jay wrote:
Portknocking is a security mechanism as it is a type of
authentication. "Something you know" in this case the sequence of
ports to knock before a unstarted service or daemon begins listening
for connections.
Since everything is transmitted in the clear port-knocking is as much of
a security mechanism as cleartext passwords. Technically: maybe
(depending on your definition). Realistically: no.
Regards
Ansgar Wiechers
--
"The Mac OS X kernel should never panic because, when it does, it
seriously inconveniences the user."
--http://developer.apple.com/technotes/tn2004/tn2118.html
