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SSH Issues: Does Installing SSH Enable More Exploits Than it Solves?

May 26, 2006

📄 Contents

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SSH as Salvation?
SSH: Many Great Things
Any Safe Port in an Internet Packet Storm
Many Ways to Misuse Your Current SSH Architecture
Other Hacks
Fixing the Problem
From Here

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SSH: Many Great Things

SSH is a terrific tool. It encrypts the communications going between a server and a client. More importantly, it authenticates the server so as to lessen chances of man-in-the-middle attacks.

TIP

Man-in-the-middle attacks occur when the intruder inserts a compromised device between the client and the true server. This can occur by launching DNS cache poisoning attacks, by forcing new edits to the PC’s HOSTS file, by corrupting the PC’s DNS cache, etc. This attack allows the intruder to break the encryption tunnel and thereby get a clear, unencrypted copy of all the data flowing, including IDs and passwords used. Those who control the network control the actual routing of the information. (Remember that when setting the enable password on your Cisco router and selecting the encryption type for the password.)

With some work, the clever user can create and configure digital keys to be used by SSH for authentication. These keys can take the place of multiple plain-text scripts with embedded passwords littering your infrastructure. In fact, once I authenticate to machine A, agent forwarding allows me to go to machine B via an effortless authentication exchange, done for me. Machine A will "proxy" the authentication for me. Combining all of these features, I can place my USB drive with my private key into the PC. I unlock the private key via my 40-plus character passphrase, and then ssh to machine A. From there, I can access all other devices that I’ve prepared with my public key, itself shared freely. Now that’s security!

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