From: Mark Teicher (mht3@earthlink.net)
Date: Tue May 16 2006 - 07:40:21 EDT
So in essence, the risk factor for a particular organization cannot be simply calculated. So if an organization's PBX is taken off-line due to a wardial assessment could be calculated much higher than the wardial software itself. For example, if one were to assess a call center or a managed call center for that matter, and accidently causes disruption in a 24x7 emergency call center, the costs or the number of lives not saved during that time period could be minimal but yet catastrophic?
-----Original Message-----
>From: Karyn Pichnarczyk <karyn@sandstorm.net>
>Sent: May 15, 2006 3:20 PM
>To: Mark Teicher <mht3@earthlink.net>
>Cc: pen-test@securityfocus.com
>Subject: Modem assessment, was: Re: Pentester convicted..
>
>
>Each company will have to calculate what their own risk factors
>are when a modem security assessment is made, however here are
>some risks/damages associated with telephone audits:
>
>1. Poorly designed wardialers might leave lots of voice mails,
>which affects each person in the company with a telephone and
>often elicits many complaints to the department doing the scan.
>
>2. Poorly designed wardialers might also either leave voicemail
>or give the classic "modem screech" sound to someone answering
>the phone, which is not normally well-received.
>
>3. Can potentially dial emergency access numbers. This is
>specifically troublesome if some people in key positions forward
>their phones to the emergency line if they are away from their
>desk.
>
>4. If, as part of the modem assessment segment of the telephone
>scan, a modem is found, IDS's might be alarmed by the "unexpected
>intruder".
>
>5. It is illegal in many places/states/countries to wardial
>numbers which you do not control.
>
>6. Other damages that might appear as a result of poorly designed
>PBX's, modem pools, etc. failing due to the modem scan call
>volume at unexpected hours.
>
>Our company sells a wardialer (PhoneSweep) and we recommend that
>before a scan is begun that there is some sort of official buy-in
>with upper management so that if there is any accidental fallout
>as a result of the scan you are covered. Having a company
>approved Modem Security Policy also helps. We recommend that
>a few short scans be done prior to the actual scan, so that any
>abnormalities in PBX's, VM systems, etc are dealt with prior to
>the company-wide scan commencing.
>
>Karyn Pichnarczyk
>
>Mark Teicher wrote:
>
>> Here is question, what is the risk factor or actual damage
>> meter read when a security pen-tester conducts a modem
>> security assessment ??
>>
>
>
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Concerned about Web Application Security?
Why not go with the #1 solution - Cenzic, the only one to win the Analyst's
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you need to proactively protect your applications from hackers. Cenzic has the
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