Microsoft warns: get your DNS flaw fix now

On Friday, Microsoft Security released a reminder bulletin that the multi-vendor DNS fix posted earlier this month should be applied and applied now. Usually, Microsoft's bulletin service is used only for news about flaws and fixes for Microsoft products. But in this case, the widely read bulletin format was more or less a finger-wagging at those on the Internet who have published the nitty-gritty details about the proof-of-concept DNS flaw. The bulletin says:

Microsoft released Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-037 on July 8, 2008, offering security updates to protect customers against Windows Domain Name System (DNS) spoofing attacks. Microsoft released this update in coordination with other DNS vendors who were also similarly impacted. Since the coordinated release of these updates, the threat to DNS systems has increased due to a greater public understanding of the attacks, as well as detailed exploit code being published on the Internet.

Microsoft is not currently aware of active attacks utilizing this exploit code or of customer impact at this time. However, attacks are likely imminent due to the publicly posted proof of concept and Microsoft is actively monitoring this situation to keep customers informed and to provide customer guidance as necessary. Microsoft’s investigation of this exploit code has verified that it does not affect Microsoft customers who have installed the updates detailed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-037.

Attackers that exploit the flaw gain the ability to perform DNS cache poisoning. The attack code was released Wednesday by developers of the Metasploit hacking toolkit. Prior to Metaspoit's post, the code was briefly released on July 21 when someone at Matasano accidentally posted details of the flaw. Since Microsoft's portion of this historic multi-vendor patch for the DNS flaw was released on July 8, Metasploit hardly jumped the gun in publicizing the flaw. Still, because the hole was only a proof-of-concept and not one that had run rampant in the wild, the patch may not have been a high priority, even for IT organizations or ISPs that are vulnerable. An unverified comment by a Network World reader indicated that at least one large U.S. ISP had not, as of Friday, implemented the patched.

The Microsoft Security bulletin includes another subtle dig. It says that those who allow Microsoft to automatically distribute patches via the Automated Updates features in Windows are of course, protected. For all the grief Microsoft must take over the quality of its security efforts, the team stands in the right on this one. Those that haven't applied the patch, with weeks of warning, are opening the door and inviting attack. If that's the case, you can't say you haven't been warned (and even admonished).

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• DNS
• DNS cache poisoning
• DNS flaw
• Microsoft security