RE: FAX a virus

["Scott Ramsdell" <Scott.Ramsdell () cellnet com>]

Alcides,

Others on this list, and especially on the Pen Test list, can speak much
more suitably than I can on this issue, but I will contribute the
following.

This depends entirely on how the input to the "document processing
system" is sanitized.  If the document processing system blindly accepts
user input as valid, then you potentially have an issue.

If the document processing system runs as a service on your Windows
boxes, check to ensure that it launches with an account that does not
have System or Admin rights on the box.  

Kind Regards,
Scott Ramsdell

-----Original Message-----
From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com]
On Behalf Of Alcides
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 10:37 PM
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: FAX a virus

Hi lists,
My FAX server allows me to receive faxes from my clients from Internet.
My clients send me some documents using their built-in Fax Printer on 
their PC. My fax server routes the stuff to the document processing 
applications. The document processing system extracts various data 
fields from received portable document format files.
The whole scenario is windows environment and let's assume that virus 
protection is temporarily off.

Now, I have a query:
Can anyone send a fax that includes a file infected with the virus/ worm

operates as a VBS script embedded within a PDF/TIF file to cause 
infections to my computers/ to affect my FAX system?
What about other possibilities of "the bad guys" using some joiner (or 
wrapper as some say) to bind malware (trojan server etc) with the pdf/ 
TIF files and fax it to me?
I would be very greatful to know what are the various possibilities.

Warm regards,
Alcides.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
This list is sponsored by: BigFix

If your IT fails, you're out of business - or worse.  Arm your 
enterprise with BigFix, the single converged IT security and operations 
engine. BigFix enables continuous discovery, assessment, remediation, 
and enforcement for complex and distributed IT environments in real-time

from a single console.
Think what's next. Think BigFix. 

http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;82309979;15562032;o?http://www.bigfix.com/
ITNext/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This list is sponsored by: BigFix

If your IT fails, you're out of business - or worse.  Arm your
enterprise with BigFix, the single converged IT security and operations
engine. BigFix enables continuous discovery, assessment, remediation,
and enforcement for complex and distributed IT environments in real-time
from a single console.
Think what's next. Think BigFix.

http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;82309979;15562032;o?http://www.bigfix.com/ITNext/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------