I can't help it if my code's read, says researcher

By Matthew Broersma, ZDNet.co.uk, 5 February, 2003 16:45

NEWS

A security researcher whose code was probably used as the basis for the recent SQL Slammer worm says that such sample code has "an important and beneficial role" in Internet security, and that he has decided to continue publishing it. David Litchfield of NGS Software has acknowledged that "proof of concept" code he wrote to demonstrate a flaw in Microsoft's SQL software was probably used as a "template" for SQL Slammer, also known as Sapphire, which shut down corporate networks, Web sites and even cash machines and airport computer systems two weeks ago. Last week he said in an email to the Bugtraq security mailing list that he was reconsidering the practice of releasing such code to the public. "In the light that someone has taken my code and put portions of it to nefarious purposes, I have to question the benefit of publishing sample code," he wrote. "A massive failure of the emergency services computers such as 911/999 could result in someone's death -- and I don't want to feel that I've contributed to that." On Tuesday, however, Litchfield said he had decided that the publication of sample code is necessary to keep networks and computers secure, arguing that secrecy is really no protection. His comments will not be welcomed by some in the security and antivirus communities, who see proof-of-concept publication as giving virus writers a helping hand. Litchfield said that this argument doesn't hold water, as it is a simple matter for a skilled virus writer to target a vulnerable program, even without sample code. Once a program has been patched, the virus writer can compare the patched software to the original software and quickly determine what the vulnerabilities are and how to exploit them. "Such people, and there are thousands of them, do not need proof of concept code or advisories so even in their absence exploits, worms and virii will still be written and used," Litchfield said in an email. Even though the software has been patched, a large number of computers are still likely to be vulnerable, as was the case with Slammer -- the bug exploited by the worm was patched several months earlier. The real risk is in notifying software vendors that a hole has been discovered in their software, Litchfield argued. Once a vendor has patched a vulnerability, it becomes public knowledge that the vulnerability existed in the first place. "Had NGS Software kept the hole to themselves... it could have been that no one would have ever known (it existed). We end up in this Catch-22 situation," Litchfield wrote. Publicly available sample code allows players such as system administrators, security scanner makers and intrusion detection equipment makers to update their products more quickly, Litchfield said. "In the interests of levelling the playing field it is necessary to publish full details," he wrote. He also said that the sample code helps developers learn from the mistakes of others. Not all security experts agree with Litchfield's assessment, particularly those in the business of protecting customers from viruses. "In the case of publishing example viruses or code which could be used easily in viruses, we would view that as a bad thing," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant with Sophos Anti-Virus. "We don't feel it's terribly useful." He said that Sophos routinely shares the source code of new viruses with other antivirus vendors, but would balk at publishing this information to the public. "That level of responsibility seems more appropriate to me than a free-for-all on the Internet," Cluley said. CNET News.com's Robert Lemos contributed to this report.

For all security-related news, including updates on the latest viruses, hacking exploits and patches, check out ZDNet UK's Security News Section. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

ZDNet UK Live

I agree with the previous commenter wholeheartedly. I couldn't say it better myself. This is very 'Big Brother'. And while I agree with protecting...

2 hours ago by UnderINK on European e-identity plan to be unveiled this month

Nice to see that Turing's idea of a general purpose computer doing once-hardware-powered tasks in software is now universal ;-) Mary

7 hours ago by Simon Bisson and Mary Branscombe on Software with everything

seriously now. I've only bothered to read a small bit of the comments. do me and the rest of the world a favour. stop saying it does not work or...

11 hours ago by Jason Burchell via Facebook on Music industry negotiating over 24-bit downloads

Read about it and weep, John Donahoe ... In addition to Visa’s V.me, there is now MasterCard’s PayPass digital wallet soon to arrive; another...

15 hours ago by Philip Charles Cohen via Facebook on PayPal takes phone-based payments to the high street

Leslie Satenstein : Where have you ever seen Mozilla even mention this? Firefox is the most popular browser in the GNU/Linux OS, so I don't see...

16 hours ago by apexwm on Firefox rapid release improves Fedora Linux

SHleG: Do you remember building a clockwork scorpion kit (I'm pretty sure I have a photo of it somewhere) — I think it was called something like...

17 hours ago by songmaster on Software with everything

Good I love Yahoo! Their search engine is getting better than Google as of late. I find more of what I want on the first page, and usually within...

18 hours ago by Chris Wortman via Facebook on Linux Mint 13 ramps up for KDE release

openhgs has made the point for Windows 8 multiple monitors without realising it! With Windows 7 you have to switch the mouse and so your focus...

20 hours ago by PatrickG on Windows 8 could speed multi-monitor uptake

Mozilla has threatened to stop supporting Linux. I guess that UBUNTU is going with another browser. I indicated that if Mozilla stops supporting...

21 hours ago by Leslie Satenstein via Facebook on Firefox rapid release improves Fedora Linux

Much as I abhor Microsoft's licensing practices, this is almost certainly down to purchasing IT equipment via 3rd party consultants - you get the...

21 hours ago by Andy Bolstridge via Facebook on 6 million wasted licences and £1,200 PCs: welcome to government IT

@openhgs Windows users have had multiple desktops since Linus started writing Linux. They just haven't shipped as standard because not enough...

2 days ago by Jack Schofield on Windows 8 could speed multi-monitor uptake

@Phil at Cloud4 What, Microsoft gets £1,200 per PC and £1,622 per server? Gosh, I'm amazed....

2 days ago by Jack Schofield on 6 million wasted licences and £1,200 PCs: welcome to government IT

You guys have no idea what is going on at Autonomy. Autonomy could have been a much more profitable organization. The sales operations at Autonomy...

2 days ago by craigsc on HP cuts 27,000 staff as Autonomy chief Lynch leaves

How does this impact on dual or multi booting? Seems to me to more or less prohibit this, from Windows 8 anyway. Will Grub 2 recognise Windows 8,...

2 days ago by Moley on Windows 8 start-up speed forces USB boot workaround

I don't understand why there cannot be a slight pause during the boot process so the user can press a key. Many operating systems do this, even if...

2 days ago by apexwm on Windows 8 start-up speed forces USB boot workaround

You can now buy the Xi3 modular computer in the UK at http://www.ocdistribution.com . This can be bought with the Tand3m software, pricing and...

2 days ago by Gavin Goodman on CES 2012: Xi3 microSERV3R

I agree: Mike Lynch can clearly build a business and manage strategy. I suspect the exit of Mike is more likely the end of a planned handover...

2 days ago by Phil at Cloud4 on HP cuts 27,000 staff as Autonomy chief Lynch leaves

This is unbeleivable government wastage with only one winner... Microsoft 1 - Tax payer Nil!

2 days ago by Phil at Cloud4 on 6 million wasted licences and £1,200 PCs: welcome to government IT

So what do you do when you can't boot into windows? Why can't I just hold Shift while I power up instead of having to boot into windows and click a...

2 days ago by Mispam on Windows 8 start-up speed forces USB boot workaround

I've also seen that Mac OS X for Intel machines is supposed to run in VirtualBox, which would also be a nice solution. I've never tried it though.

2 days ago by apexwm on xTreme Triple Booting: Linux, Mac & Windows

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

I can't help it if my code's read, says researcher

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Slammer: The first 'Warhol' worm?

Counting the cost of Slammer

Microsoft warns of Slammer morphs

Slammer may not feed on Microsoft alone

Microsoft fails Slammer's security test

Post your comment

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in IT Strategy

Citrix to deliver Windows desktops from the cloud

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Senior Business Analyst

Technical Project Manager

Software Support Engineer

Inside ZDNet UK

Indoor navigation coming to a mobile near you soon

Software with everything

Asus Transformer Pad TF300T

How IT is ganging up on organised cybercrime

HTC One V: First take

SharePoint deployment: The final chapter

Ten IT jobs to save up for those rare lulls

News & Analysis

Reviews

Blogs

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features

ZDNet UK / News and Analysis / Business of IT / IT Strategy

I can't help it if my code's read, says researcher

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Post your comment

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in IT Strategy

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Inside ZDNet UK

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features