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Microsoft Releases Attack Surface Analyzer Tool
wiredmikey writes "Microsoft has released the public version of Attack Surface Analyzer, a tool designed to help software developers and independent software vendors assess the attack surface of an application or software platform. The tool was pushed out of beta with Version 1.0 released on Thursday. Since ASA doesn't require the original source code, managers and executives can also use the tool to determine how a new application or software being considered would affect the organization's overall security before deploying it. The tool takes snapshots of the system before and after an application was installed, and compares them to identify changes made when new applications were installed. A stand-alone wizard guides users through the scanning and analysis process and a command-line version is available for use with automated tools. Attack Surface Analyzer 1.0 can be downloaded from Microsoft here."
Geez, they haven't even shipped the thing yet.
My first thought on seeing the title was WTF...Microsoft are releasing their own 0-day exploits ahead of a product launch?
I guess marketing should be careful next time to write some exclusions into their company-wide email requesting staff to spread the word Surface as widely as possible to get it into peoples' subconscious.
Sounds like something some guy I know is doing:
http://home.xandora.net/index.php/ourtechnology
if they have been using it then it must not work well
I wonder what the attack surface of Attack Surface will be
So I haven't yet tested it, but it sounds like a fancy interface to netstat, diff, and a wee bit of HijackThis thrown in for good measure. From the download site:
Some of the checks performed by the tool include analysis of changed or newly added files, registry keys, services, Microsoft ActiveX controls, listening ports and other parameters that affect a computer's attack surface.
The actual assessment of an attack surface is far more complex than any single system, and there's a heavy user-education component that no automated tool can test. While I'm sure this will have some use for admins who don't run firewalls or are under typically-asinine requirements to describe in detail the impact of a package, it looks more useful for ensuring programs actually uninstall completely.
You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
IT Security Auditors can use the tool to evaluate the risk of a particular piece of software installed on the Windows platform during threat risk reviews ... ... ...
The tool takes snapshots of the system before and after an application was installed, and compares them to identify changes made when new applications were installed.
The tool also gives an overview of changes to the system that Microsoft considers important
The tool analyzes changed or newly added files, registry keys, services, ActiveX Controls, listening ports, access control lists and other parameters.
Analyzer does not appear to rely on signatures or try to exploit known vulnerabilities. Instead, it just looks at classes of security weaknesses where programs commonly fall short, or are exposed to attack vectors.
This is for Windows only and it does not test applications for security problems, it looks at the entire system and how it is affected by the installation.
You can't handle the truth.
already slashdotted. I think they need to work on scalability problems.
Yes, be careful people. This is the tool that will detect bad comments about Micro$oft's upcoming tablet. It will then extract your Google credentials and bombard your Android devices with adverts about making the Big Switch.
It's the Surface Tablet Computer with Frickin' Lasers!
-- QED
Why would an application developer need this because why would an application developer need to be modifying the OS at all? That just sounds like really bad design.
The link in the summary doesn't work for me. This is the correct link:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/security/archive/2012/08/02/microsoft-s-free-security-tools-attack-surface-analyzer.aspx
I've seen lots of stuff about Microsoft's upcoming Surface, but it didn't look different enough from normal tablets to get me interested. But an Attack Surface could be exciting. Does anybody have a link to a picture of this thing?
I imagine that it might be shaped something like a cricket bat with a shock resistant display on its blade. If so, that would be cool.
...or when a security hole comes up, aside from it being Adobe or Java; isn't it a hole found by compromising the OS itself? This may be desktop/laptop only, but in my experience, when a flaw is discovered, it is usually the OS that is compromised and not a separate program. Yes, I am aware that there have been programs out there that are exploited. I am just saying that MOST of the time it is the OS. By most of the time, I mean like 90% or more. I could be wrong...correct me if I am.
"That's right...I said it."
If anyone's going to know exploitable software, it's Microsoft.
It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
- E. Debs
Maybe I am thinking the worst, but my first thought about this was that it was an attempt to attack standards by adding visibility to standards compliant applications. Most businesses don't really have much insight into when apps are opening up ports and using a new protocol (for example Adobe). The problem is, many apps on Windows do this because they want to use standard protocols that are cross platform alternatives to Windows proprietary solutions. This tool is now telling Admins that installing Adobe CS is greatly increasing their security problems by opening up a port to use a standard protocol instead of sticking with the one that only works with Windows. Sure it doubles the attack surface, but only because Windows refuses to support standard protocols in the first place and relies upon having nonstandard ports open for their proprietary protocols.
Slam Microsoft.
They are actually trying to work with software vendors and develop tools to show what is impacted on the OS when you install their applications and it is Microsoft's fault they have a crappy OS.
Can M$ do anything right (according to /.)
I believe that whatever created even the most recently advanced one, finally It only focuses on how dominant they can play a rule in technology and others should raise their hats to show their respects on how they dominate this technology market..this is written as a salutation on how it inspires us on competing our business world on Furniture Jepara...cheers....