Securing Instant Messaging

Matt Hsu

Outline

Introduction Instant Messaging Primer Instant Messaging Vulnerabilities and

Exploits Securing Instant Messaging in Your

Corporation Conclusion

Introduction

Instant Messaging Primer

Instant Messaging is not a new technology

The first system, IRC, was developed in 1988 by Jarkko Oikarinen

Providing Services: p2p real-time chatting and file transfer capabilities

Current IM systems: ICQ, AOL IM, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger

IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat

Communication Mode

Client-Server instant messaging P2P instant messaging

Encryption, File Transfers, Scripting, Others

Most IM systems do not encrypt p2p traffic

Those systems do not encrypt files transferred either

A handful of IM platforms offer scripting capabilities

Additional functionality: mini-Web provided by ICQ

Instant Messaging Vulnerabilities and Exploits (1)

Eavesdropping Using a packet sniffer

Account Hijacking A number of Web sites provide DIY for launching

such a attack Password protection is very limited

Data Access and Modification Buffer overflow In May 2002, w00w00 identified a vulnerability: an

attacker to gain full access to targeted systems

Instant Messaging Vulnerabilities and Exploits (2)

Worms and Blended Threats IM software maintains a list of buddies By two ways: 1)leveraging IM scripting 2)

exploiting a buffer overflow Scripting Instant Messaging Threats

Instant Messaging Threats that Exploit Vulnerabilities Denial-of-Service Instant messaging server vulnerabilities

Securing Instant Messaging in Your Corporation

IM vs. Firewalls Out-of-the-box firewall configurations are not

sufficient enough to block access Tunneling tech: It make a client to slip past the

corporate firewall IM File Transfers vs. Firewalls

The best way to block file transfers is to block the port numbers used by IM products

Instant Messaging Best Practices Establish a corporate instant messaging usage policy

Properly configure corporate perimeter firewalls

Deploy desktop antivirus software

Employ personal firewalls to ensure policy compliance

Deploy corporate instant messaging servers

Recommended instant messaging client settings

Install all IM patches a.s.a.p

Use vulnerability management solutions to ensure policy compliance

Conclusion

Current IM systems are inadequately secured

Need a layer suitable security systems

Consider the growing number of wireless phones already supporting IM services

Great Sentence: “Only by appropriately securing these systems will businesses be able to reap their full economic benefits”