XSS For Managers

What is Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)?

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a type of vulnerability which is very widespread and allows an attacker to insert malicious code (JavaScript) into your web browser via the use of a vulnerable web application. The attacker can deliver their malicious code in a number of different ways.

They can trick you into clicking on a link (Reflected XSS), or wait for you to visit a page which already has the malicious code embedded into it (Stored or Persistent XSS).

That annoying pop-up box with the number 1 in it? That's just a way that some people visually prove that their JavaScript (XSS) has been run. But don't let that lousy pop-up box fool you, there is a lot more to XSS than that!

What can hackers do with XSS?

• A hacker may be able to steal your 'cookies' and login to the application as if they were you!
• They may be able to redirect you to a malicious web site without you knowing in an attempt to trick you into giving away sensitive information such as your bank details.
• They could add fake login pages to the vulnerable application to trick you into giving them your username and password.
• They could even use XSS to bypass other security measures which are built into the application and your web browser to protect you.
• The possibilities are almost limitless. Take over your webcam? Yep! Listen in on your computer's microphone?

For advanced attacks see the The Browser Exploitation Framework (BeEF) tool.

Who's been hacked using XSS?

• The Apache Foundation, the creators and maintainers of one of the most popular web server software on the Internet had their servers compromised by an initial XSS attack.
• An XSS attack on the official forum of the popular Linux Operating System, Ubuntu, allowed the attackers to download the usernames, email addresses and passwords for 1.82 million of their users.
• XSS attacks typically target the application's users and their local networks; however, as seen in the examples above, when those users are administrative users the application's web servers are also at risk.
• XSS vulnerabilities are discovered within Facebook, Yahoo, Google, Twitter and other high profile websites on a daily basis by independent security researchers participating in bug bounties.

Here is a list of other hacks using XSS -https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?snapid=S1158702BBoV

What can I do to protect myself against XSS?

• Make sure that your web browser is kept up to date and that it has all of its security features enabled, such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) filtering. If your particular browser does not have an XSS filter, like Firefox, then you can download an XSS filter add-on called NoScript.
• Be careful about what links you click on. A link may look harmless enough, but may contain malicious XSS payloads.
• Log out of web sites when you are finished with them, this makes it harder for hackers to steal your 'cookies'.

The technical bit! What can I do to protect my web application against XSS?

• Cross-Site Scripting occurs when untrusted input is output to a page without first being sanitised and/or properly encoded. For example, if a user supplies their username to login and then you display that username without sanitising and/or encoding it, what happens if the username contains HTML characters?
  
  The web browser will not be able to tell the difference between the user's username and what is the page's valid HTML. Data (the username) is being mixed with code (the HTML)! This could allow a user to login with a username that contains malicious JavaScript and have it execute in the browser within the context of your web application.
  
• Make sure that you sanitise the username before using it, for example, if users should only have alpha numeric characters in their usernames then enforce this with input sanitisation. Use a whitelist! Compare the username against known goods instead of known bads.
  
• Use the right encoding! If the username is going to be used within HTML, then HTML encode all of the username's characters.
  
  This way the browser will know what is meant to be rendered as HTML and what is not. It's not all about HTML encoding though! You must encode for the right output 'context'. See the links below for further information.
  
• Scan your applications for XSS issues. There are many automated web application security scanners which can detect XSS issues in web applications. You could try giving the Open Source OWASP ZAP a go.
  
• Set your session cookies with the HttpOnly flag. This tells the browser that the cookie should not be accessed by JavaScript, helping protect your users from having their sessions stolen.
  
• A HTTP header called Content Security Policy (CSP) can be set by the web server to tell the web browser what and where JavaScript is allowed to be executed from. It uses a whitelist!
  
• Finally, why not install a Web Application Firewall (WAF) such as the Open Source mod_security! A WAF will give your application that extra layer of defence to defend against those attackers but should be used in a defense in depth scenario and not as the only solution as bypasses are found often.

Where can I find further information?

The two types of XSS mentioned on this page (Reflected and Stored) are not the only two! We have only touched upon the subject here. Want to find out more?

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is a great resource for all things related to the security of web applications. Check out their wiki article on XSS or their XSS Prevention Cheat Sheet. For information on other types of web application vulnerabilities take a look at the OWASP Top 10.

PhishMe: Popular holiday-themed phishing attacks

Most common Holiday-Themed Phishing Attacks

The holidays are a busy time for everyone… especially for hackers trying to phish your employees. Phishing is most effective when it exploits human emotions—fear, greed, anxiousness, curiosity, compassion, getting a good deal—and the holidays tend to bring these emotions out more than other times of the year. This gives adversaries a bevy of relevant topics to use to build phishing campaigns. However, which tactics should you train your employees look out for?

Below, PhishMe has pulled together a list of the most common holiday-themed phishing attacks:

Holiday e-card: Who doesn’t love to receive a nice holiday greeting? But is that link to an e-card actually from your co-worker, manager, HR department, etc. or is it something sinister? Emails that appear to be holiday e-cards are a simple and effective phishing tactic every holiday season.

Holiday party info/registration: The company holiday party is always a much anticipated event, and The Wall Street Journal estimates 9 out of 10 companies will throw some kind of holiday party this year. That means lots of organizations will send out email invitations, so spoofed invitations present another great holiday-themed opportunity for attackers crafting phishing emails.

Travel notifications: AAA estimated that 93.3 million people traveled more than 50 miles from home during the end of December last year, and that means airlines will be sending out plenty of flight change/confirmation emails. We have seen some pretty realistic phishing emails that spoof the types of emails airlines commonly send to passengers, and an email warning of major itinerary changes will certainly grab the attention of an employee eager to get home for the holidays.

The view the full post and the rest of the holiday phishing scams please click here.

Information Security Forum (ISF) Identifies 6 Major Threats for 2014

ISF report states top six security threats global business will face in 2014 include the cloud, "BYO" trends and cyber-crime

A nonprofit group founded in 1989, the ISF performs research on topics dictated by its 350-plus global member organizations. Only recently has it begun making its findings public.

The six threats identified as major concerns headed into 2014, ISF emphasized the need for companies to find trusted partners and talk about cyber-security—a topic that's often treated as private.

Six: BYO

Trends Topping the ISF's list is BYO, and it's no mistake that the "D" is missing. Workers bring their email accounts, their cloud storage and more. As the trend of employees bringing mobile devices in the workplace grows, businesses of all sizes continue to see information security risks being exploited. These risks stem from both internal and external threats, including mismanagement of the device itself, external manipulation of software vulnerabilities and the deployment of poorly tested, unreliable business applications.

Five: Data Privacy In the Cloud

The cloud presented no danger, as long as one could tick off a list of items, including knowing how many clouds a company has; what other companies' data are being stored on the same servers; whether one's storage services are being subcontracted; and if there's a clear plan for what happens when a contract with a cloud provider is terminated. While the cost and efficiency benefits of cloud computing services are clear, organizations cannot afford to delay getting to grips with their information security implications.

Organizations must know whether the information they are holding about an individual is Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and therefore needs adequate protection.

Four: Reputational Damage

There are two types of companies—those that have been hacked and those that are going to be. What would a hack mean to your marketing manager, to your head of investor services, to your PR team that needs to put out that statement?. When the situation is something that could send stock prices plummeting, the reality of it sets in.

Three: Privacy and Regulation

Organizations need to treat privacy as both a compliance and a business risk, according to the ISF. "Furthermore," the report added, "we are seeing increasing plans for regulation around the collection, storage and use of information along with severe penalties for loss of data and breach notification, particularly across the European Union. Expect this to continue and develop further, imposing an overhead [cost] in regulatory management above and beyond the security function and necessarily including legal, HR and board level input."

Two: Cyber-Crime

ISF emphasized how shockingly excellent criminals are at coordinating and working together toward a cause. The Syrian Electronic Army's hack into The New York Times was offered as an example. The bad guys are really great at collaboration, because there's a lot in it for them.

Cyber-crime, hacktivism—hacking for a cause—and the rising costs of compliance, to deal with the uptick in regulatory compliance issues, can create a perfect storm of sorts,. "Organizations that identify what the business relies on most will be well-placed to quantify the business case to invest in resilience, therefore minimizing the impact of the unforeseen.

One: The Internet of Things 

High-speed networks and the Internet of Things will create scenarios like the ability for a car to detect a traffic jam ahead and understand that its driver won't make it to the airport in time for his flight—and so contact the airport to change the flight. That level of information, in the wrong hands, is concerning.

Businesses can't avoid every serious incident, and few have a "mature, structured approach for analyzing what went wrong.

By adopting a realistic, broad-based, collaborative approach to cyber-security and resilience, government departments, regulators, senior business managers and information security professionals will be better able to understand the true nature of cyber-threats and respond quickly and appropriately." 

PCI DSS 3.0 – What's New?

Infographic - Summary of the Changes from PCI DSS 2.0 to 3.0

Last month, the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) officially released the PCI DSS v3.0 compliance standards, but much remains to be done before merchants, service providers and auditors will understand how the new mandates will impact organizations.

The effective date of the version 3.0 of the standard will be on January 1, 2014, but existing PCI DSS 2.0 compliant vendors will have until January 1, 2015 to move to the new standard, and some of the changes will continue to be best practices for several more months (until June 1, 2015).

Here’s what has changed:

10 defenses against smartphone theft

Thieves see mobile phones as easy cash. Take these 10 steps to defend yourself

10) Use security applications

Android phones and iPhones both come with security software. But that doesn't mean the software is active, or that third-party software might not help even more. If you have an Android phone, make sure you're using Android Device Manager or a third-party security software such as Lookout Security & Antivirus. If you have an iPhone, make sure Find My iPhone has been set up and activated.

9) Use a strong password

Too many people just give up when it comes to passwords, access codes, and PINs. They pick something such as "password" or "qwerty" or "1234." Raise the level of your game: Come up with a functional password generation recipe, then apply it to your devices and websites. You don't need a password manager. This is not rocket science.

8) Keep phone data handy

Write down your phone model number, serial number, and International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI). If your phone gets stolen, you'll want these numbers (along with your mobile carrier's support phone number) to help your carrier place your IMEI number on the GSMA IMEI blacklist. You can find your IMEI number in most phone settings menus by dialing *#06#, or by checking the battery compartment, if accessible.

7) Be aware of your surroundings

We've all seen them. People who meander down the sidewalk, staring at their phones, forcing others to take evasive action to avoid a collision. People chatting on phones oblivious to those nearby. People who set their phones down on cafe tables or on public transit seats. People who let their phones dangle from purse or pocket. Don't be one of these people.

6) React quickly if your phone is stolen

Report the theft to the local police. This will allow police to check websites that might be trying to unload your stolen phone and will provide you with a police report in case you want to make an insurance claim. Report the theft to your mobile carrier, so your phone service can be suspended and the phone's identifier can be blacklisted. Activate any applicable security software such as Find My iPhone or Lookout. You might also want to change your phone and app passwords, in case the thief was able to login and access some of the services you use through stored passwords. If you're really lucky, your phone's security software will help you recover your device.

5) Choose your phone to match your security expertise

Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt recently insisted that Android phones are more secure than Apple's iPhone. That might be true if you're talking about recent-model Android phones with the Android 4.4 "KitKat" operating system. But security experts scoff at Schmidt's claim. The reality is that the majority of mobile malware affects Android devices.

In August, the FBI and DHS issued a report that found 79 percent of mobile malware affected Android devices, 19 percent affected Symbian devices, and less than 1 percent affected BlackBerry, iOS, or Windows Phone devices. Android's troubles largely arise from the fact that as many as 44 percent of Android users worldwide rely on Android versions 2.3.3 to 2.3.7, which have known vulnerabilities.

So although it's possible to run Android securely, it requires more diligence. Choose BlackBerry, iOS, or Windows Phone if you don't want to be proactive about security. Choose Android if you require the flexibility of a more-open ecosystem and are comfortable with the responsibility.

4) Choose your WiFi network carefully

Just because a WiFi network is visible and accessible doesn't mean it's safe. Use secure WiFi networks when possible. When there's no other option, avoid doing anything that involves authentication if you can. You never know who might be listening or intercepting unprotected network traffic.

3) Choose your apps and websites carefully

User behavior represents a major source of insecurity. If you can avoid downloading sketchy apps and visiting suspect websites, you will reduce your chances of acquiring malware. Security firm Trend Micro says it has analyzed 3.7 million Android apps and updates, and found 18 percent to be malicious, with an additional 13 percent categorized as high risk. Almost half of the malicious apps (46 percent) were acquired from Google Play, the company says.

2) Don't buy phone insurance

If the mobile carriers really are fighting pre-installed security software to sustain revenue from insurance premiums, you can fight back by refusing to participate. Carrying your expensive smartphone without an insurance net should also encourage you to guard your phone more carefully. Of course, you'll be wishing you had insurance when your phone slips from your pocket and fracture lines spread across the touchscreen.

1) Leave your phone at home

It's easier said than done. But you can't lose what you don't have. Shocking though it may be, people used to get by without mobile phones. Try it once in while, if only to highlight your device addiction.