Second Root Cert-Private Key Pair Found On Dell Computer (threatpost.com)

msm1267 writes: A second root certificate and private key, similar to eDellRoot [mentioned here yesterday], along with an expired Atheros Authenticode cert and private key used to sign Bluetooth drivers has been found on a Dell Inspiron laptop. The impact of these two certs is limited compared to the original eDellRoot cert. The related eDellRoot cert is also self-signed but has a different fingerprint than the first one. It has been found only on two dozen machines according to the results of a scan conducted by researchers at Duo Security. Dell, meanwhile, late on Monday said that it was going to remove the eDellroot certificate from all Dell systems moving forward, and for existing affected customers, it has provided permanent removal instructions (.DOCX download), and starting today will push a software update that checks for the eDellroot cert and removes it. The second certificate / key pair was found by researchers at Duo Security.

Comments

Using Firefox Meantime

[retroworks]

My new XPS 15 9050 had just arrived and I tested it and found it vulnerable, now looking forward to implementing the fix over the holiday. In the meantime, the fact that Firefox protected the machine on the test websites (and Chrome and Explorer did not) caused me to swap to Firefox on all my other machines, just cause I appreciate they had my back.

Re:Using Firefox Meantime

[DarkOx]

You need to wait for the holiday to delete a certificate out of your trusted roots on your personal machine? Wow.

Secondly Firefox did not protect you from anything, the fact they don't share the system cert store did. Yeah it worked out this time to your favor but I honestly don't think Mozilla's failure to integrate with system certificate stores is a win in general. Its actually one of the biggest reasons I think about leaving my beloved SeaMonkey for something else.

For one thing you now have not one but 2 certificate stores you need to audit. That sucks! If a CA says they have been compromised I have to remember to fix it in 2 place instead of one. That isn't a security win. Many users don't probably even realize they don't use the system trusts, so if they get instructions to fix an issue by removing a CA they will likely fail to fix the Mozilla based browser.

Second in managed environments revoking a trust in Mozilla isn't easy to script out, that means Firefox and SeaMonkey installs likely just don't get fixed, again not a security win.

Frankly I think its rather a shame Mozilla does not provide at least the option to use the system trusteded roots.

Steps

[Anonymous Coward]

Step 0: Don't buy any equipment from a manufacturer that supports Microsoft Windows Platform Binary Table (WPBT).

Step 1: Wipe any pre-existing OS on your equipment.

Step 2: Stop buying anything from vendors (Lenovo, now Dell) who are proven to do this shit.

Re:Unavoidable

[gcnaddict]

Um, they have legal possession or authorization over them? Could be computers owned by clients, by themselves, by consenting families of employees...

The CFAA allows for this.

Sadly Microsoft encouraged this.

[Lumpy]

WE don't get clean reinstall DVD's, Microsoft allows the builder to put whatever crap they want on the computer. Honestly it's all microsoft's fault.

Go back to shipping a MICROSOFT PRESSED installation DVD with the machine as a requirement and the install must be done from a clean image no extra crap is allowed to be installed on the machine. yes that means they have to use decent chipsets instead of the crap-tastic stuff like Marvell and other really low end china dog food devices.

Re:A word document?

[trawg]

Their official blog post actually has a PDF link - not sure if they've updated it since releasing the (weird) DOCX file, or if the DOCX came from another source.