RE: exploit to vulnerability

From: Lawrence Garvin (lawrence_at_onsitechsolutions.com)
Date: 08/21/05

  • Next message: Murad Talukdar: "RE: exploit to vulnerability"
    Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 11:50:33 -0500
    To: <focus-ms@securityfocus.com>
    
    

     
    Yes, WSUS does allow you to have unique approvals on a per-group basis
    within the same WSUS server.

    This is new functionality that did not exist in SUS.

    This provides an excellent opportunity for segregating desktop and
    server systems, as Richard has alluded to. By configuring the desktops
    to download and install updates at a scheduled time, you can effectively
    update all desktops within 24 hours of approving the update without any
    further action. Having a small test group that are configured to
    "Auto-Approve" all critical and security updates might also be a good
    component of such a strategy. As Richard noted, if those updates
    installed immediately upon release do not affect the machines of
    knowledgable, competent desktop users (e.g. the IT Department), then
    approve them for general distribution 24-48 hours later -- or perhaps
    over the weekend following Patch Tuesday.

    Of course, that does then touch on the original question of the thread
    which is relative to "how fast" to apply the updates. Really that's a
    question that needs to be decided on a case-by-case basis. Some updates,
    while desirable to be installed, won't actually involve risk to your
    desktops, because the vulnerability isn't likely to penetrate perimeter
    firewalls to begin with. Others, those that involve exploits distributed
    via email, for example, have immediate risk to all email-enabled systems
    within your network. In such cases, be also aware of the availability of
    deadlines, which can be configured on a per-update, per-group basis, and
    can be used to force a guaranteed installation of the update (within 22
    hours) if the deadline configured is a date/time in the past.

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Tom Milliner [mailto:tom.milliner@verizon.net]
    Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 1:11 AM
    To: 'Richard Whitworth'; 'Murad Talukdar'; focus-ms@securityfocus.com
    Subject: RE: exploit to vulnerability

    Does WSUS let you have one server give different approved updates to
    different groups? I don't think SUS did that.

     
    Tom Milliner, CPA, MCSE
    2404 Summer Place Dr.
    Irving, TX 75062
    (214) 540-2741
    tom.milliner@verizon.net

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Richard Whitworth [mailto:Richard.Whitworth@hsbp.co.uk]
    Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 9:18 AM
    To: Murad Talukdar; focus-ms@securityfocus.com
    Subject: RE: exploit to vulnerability

    Hi,

    I use WSUS for dektops - I have one computer group configured for myself
    and my technician. As patches appear the are approved for us, if they
    don't cause any issues they are then approved for the rest of the
    desktops. Turn around can be as little as a day.

    Servers are a different matter, I tend to install the patches at planned
    maintenance intervals so I have to take a view as to whether the issue
    is serious enough for me to reboot the servers or if other layers of
    protection such as AV software would mitigate any potential threat til
    the next planned maintenance interval.

    Richard

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Murad Talukdar [mailto:talukdar_m@subway.com]
    Sent: 19 August 2005 07:11
    To: focus-ms@securityfocus.com
    Subject: exploit to vulnerability

    With all the issues highlighting the speed that exploits are now being
    written (eg http://www.securityfocus.com/news/11285 ) The window between
    exploit/vuln, appears on average, to be getting tighter.

    We have an SME network and I used to have a week or so to test patches
    before rolling them out.
    This all begs the question now, with limited resources, do I just patch
    and not worry about testing? I definitely have fewer resources than some
    of the companies that were hit (CNN et al) and less time to dedicate to
    patching.

    Should I just use auto updates/GP to patch everything regardless?
    What do other SME admins do?

    Kind Regards
    Murad Talukdar

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  • Next message: Murad Talukdar: "RE: exploit to vulnerability"

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