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Tech Alert Briefing for 1/26/2003

"The Importance of Applying Patches"

System Administrators received a strong wake-up call this weekend as thousands of unpatched computers worldwide were struck by a SQL server worm.

BankersOnline Tech Advisory warned banks to be alert to this vulnerability in one of its previously issued advisories and urged system administrators to take precautions by ensuring that the latest patches were installed on their systems.

The Carnegie Mellon Engineering Research Institute (CERT) issued a Advisory Warning detailing the SQL flaw. It is recommended that affected users immediately apply the patch supplied by Microsoft to correct the vulnerability. CERT also made available a detailed document outlining a series of tech tips andSteps for Recovering from a UNIX or NT System Compromise.

Despite enhanced efforts in monitoring and reporting vulnerabilities by the National Infrastructure Protection Center and other security watchdog groups, over 39,000computers were reported to be infected by this latest electronic attack that occurred over the weekend.Bank of America reported that over 13,000 of its ATM machines were affected preventing customers from withdrawing cash.

Financial institution system administrations should immediately apply the patch on all systems running SQL.In addition, network administrations should review all related software that may be running SQL as a hidden part of other applications and take the appropriate actions needed to update the related applications.Contact your software suppliers or IT partners for the latest system updates.

The new cumulative patch for Microsoft SQL server issued today (01/26/03),can be downloaded at:

Cumulative Security Patch forMicrosoft SQL Server
Microsoft lists the SQL vulnerability as CRITICAL and recommends that all systems be immediately patched to prevent the exploit.





Previous Tech Alerts:
01/23/03Microsoft and SUN release slew of Patches
01/14/03New Worms Spreading through Email
12/09/02Microsoft Issues Updated Cumulative Patch for IE
11/13/02New e-greeting tactics pose serious threat
11/01/02Critical patch released for Windows 2000, Windows XP
10/21/02Microsoft Fixes Vulnerabilities: Releases Patches for SQL, Word and Excel
10/03/02Bugbear Worm Gains Strength
10/02/02Top 20 List of Internet Security Vulnerabilities Released
09/02/02Microsoft Warns SysAdmins To Immediately Patch Identity Spoofing Flaw
08/21/02Microsoft releases patch to fix "critical" vulnerability inWindows 2000 systems that allow unprivileged users to logonto them interactively
08/09/02 Is Confidential Bank Information Walking Out Your Door?
07/30/02 Microsoft Continues to Patch Flawed Software
07/23/02 CERT advisory on PHP
07/15/02 Outlook Users Employing PGP Encryption Program Vulnerable to Hacking
07/11/02 Researchers Report Serious Flaw in IE
06/27/02 Microsoft Releases Critical Patch for Windows Media Player
06/18/02 CERT Warns of Critical Vulnerabilty in Apache Web Server
06/12/02 Sports Fans Beware: World Cup Virus Bounces Around the Net
06/07/02 Dead Man Tell No Passwords
05/31/02 Microsoft Issues Critical Warning Regarding Exchange Server
05/22/02 Microsoft SQL Spida Worm Slows Network Traffic
05/15/02 Virus Hoax 'JDBGMGR.EXE' Spreading Rapidly Thoughout Net
04/25/02 Klez Worm Reels in Banks with its Bait
04/11/02 Ten New Vulnerabilities Discovered in Microsoft IIS Server
04/09/02 New Virus Hoax Circulating Around Net
03/22/02 MyLife.B Virus Makes Its Way Around the Net
03/21/02 Microsoft Updates Its Warning on Critical Windows Vulnerability
03/14/02 New Virus (W32/Fbound-C) Spreading Rapidly in the Wild
03/08/02 Unauthorized E-Mail Scam Attempts to Steer Unwitting Customers to Fraudulent Bank Web Site
03/06/02 Klez-E Worm and W32.Gibe Virus Warnings
03/01/02 CERT Issues Warning on PHP Scripting Language Flaw
02/27/02 CERT Issues Warning on Internet Explorer and Outlook Flaw
02/22/02 SNMP Patches and Detection Tools Available
02/20/02 Email Address Belonging to Legitimate Security Site Hijacked to Deliver Dangerous Yarner Worm
02/15/02 Mass Mailing Email Worm Compromises Word 2000 Security Settings
02/13/02 SNMP VULNERABILITY
02/07/02 Bloodhound Mass Mailing Worm and Managing Risks in Wireless Networks
02/04/02 Microsoft Issues Collection of Security Fixes for Windows 2000
01/31/02 Copycat Virus Unleashed
01/30/02 Netscape Browser Vulnerable to Cookie Theft
01/28/02 "My Party" Mass Mailing Worm
01/18/02 IT Contingency Planning Guide, Information Security Checklist and Solaris Vulnerability
01/15/02 Trojan.StartPage Alters Web Browsers
01/12/02 New Internet Worm Gigger Masquerades as Microsoft Outlook Upgrade
01/08/02 Microsoft Universal Plug and Play Vulnerability
12/20/01 Holiday Themed Computer Virus Unleashed

First published on 01/25/2003

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