RE: RPC over HTTP security
From: Shawn Wall (sjwall_at_shaw.ca)
Date: 01/31/05
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Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 08:52:01 -0700 To: "'Depp, Dennis M.'" <deppdm@ornl.gov>, 'Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers' <bugtraq@planetcobalt.net>, security-basics@securityfocus.com
To clarify, I'm not saying it is 'better' or more secure just that I prefer
a VPN for the following reasons:
1. VPN provides authentication and encryption.
2. VPN access can be configured to reject clients if antivirus is not
installed/updated.
3. Granular access to network resources, i.e. access lists can be used to
'contain' remote users.
4. Reduced exposure of network resources to the public, i.e the VPN is
usually terminated on the firewall and once authenticated, secure comms with
specified internal resources is permitted.
In a way some of these features does make a VPN more secure from a control
aspect.
shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: Depp, Dennis M. [mailto:deppdm@ornl.gov]
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 9:16 AM
To: Shawn Wall; Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers;
security-basics@securityfocus.com
Subject: RE: RPC over HTTP security
Why is this better than RPC over HTTP? I also have VPN setup. However,
being able to access Outlook without having to fireup a VPN is very nice.
Particularly if I want to quickly download my mail before going on a trip or
attending a meeting.
Why do you feel VPN is more secure than RPC over HTTP?
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Shawn Wall [mailto:sjwall@shaw.ca]
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 4:12 PM
To: Depp, Dennis M.; 'Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers';
security-basics@securityfocus.com
Subject: RE: RPC over HTTP security
I think your best option is to use a VPN to allow your mobile users access
to email if they require the functionality of Outlook vs OWA.
I've deployed this configuration using a PIX and Cisco VPN client. Works
very well.
shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: Depp, Dennis M. [mailto:deppdm@ornl.gov]
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 6:19 AM
To: Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers; security-basics@securityfocus.com
Subject: RE: RPC over HTTP security
Ansgar,
Answers to your questions.
1) Because the functionality of RPC over HTTP(S) is a great benefit to
mobile users.
2) It doesn't. However, by "bloating" the protocol so it will work over
HTTP, I have also "bloated" the protocol to allow it to work over HTTPS.
This allows me to secure the traffic.
Lets now look at RPC. What are the major vulnerabilities of RPC? RPC does
not authenticate prior to allowing the connection to proceed. Many of the
RPC vulnerabilities would be neutered if RPC was force to authenticate prior
to making the connection. RPC over HTTP solves this problem by forcing
authentication. When I add HTTPS to this senario, I have secured my
credentials while they are in an untrusted environment and provided
authentication prior to allowing RPC to proceed. The RPC traffic is also
passed through the SSL tunnel providing end-to-end security.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers [mailto:bugtraq@planetcobalt.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 8:22 PM
To: security-basics@securityfocus.com
Subject: Re: RPC over HTTP security
On 2005-01-26 sf_mail_sbm@yahoo.com wrote:
> We are thinking about deploying RPC over HTTP to access email from the
> Internet
Ask yourself two questions:
1. Why does nobody in his right mind do RPC over untrusted networks?
2. How does bloating a protocol by encapsulating it in plain-text make
it any better?
Regards
Ansgar Wiechers
-- "Those who would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety, and will lose both." --Benjamin Franklin
- Previous message: Johnson, Joey: "RE: Spyware blocking with HOSTS file on DNS server"
- Maybe in reply to: Shawn Wall: "RE: RPC over HTTP security"
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