Girl Geekette

While searching around, I happen to run across something that caught my eye. It deals with Microsoft’s NTFS and security. ADS 0r Alternate Data Streams - was originally created to provide compatibility with HFS (Macintosh Hierarchical File System).

Although widely unknown by most that ADS even exists, it is has been used by sometime by people to exploit Windows Boxes that use NTFS. Not all anti-virus programs will pick up alternate data streams. It is easy to exploit the ADS and let it go undetected for some time. Although with technology getting better, some anti-virus scanners are now picking up the ADS when changes have been made to the default configuration.

Security Focus has a demonstration of how this is used by rooting or exploiting a lab box using the MS04–011 vulnerability. The Metaspoilt Framework can allow someone to break into a computer via the lsass overflow.

The demonstration can be found at securityfocus.com/infocus/1822

An easier way to demonstrate the idea of ADS is to use a simple command such as

“type c:\anyfile.exe > c:\winnt\system32\calc.exe:anyfile.exe”

This will "fork" or run the calculator program in Windows with any executable that is chosen. So, by running a command like this, almost anything can be hidden behind a valid (Windows) program. When seen in task manager, this program looks like or almost like a normal program (depending on the operating system, and that is explained later) and most people will pay no notice.

Many people have noticed when using the MSCONFIG with windows that there are some programs in the startup file that might look like that in the path. It is possible to write it so that in the registry, a program that is used by ADS will start up with every boot up of the Windows box. (Think spyware, viruses, trojans and the like)

The demonstration in windowsecurity.com uses Windows 2000. I am curious as to what it would do on Windows XP and Windows 2003 after having read this.

My experiments with Windows XP can be found at alternate-data-streams-and-windows-xp-test

To see this demonstration using Windows 2003, I have posted it at alternate-data-streams-windows-2003-test

Related posts:

1. Alternate Data Streams and Windows XP Test Needless to say, I was inspired by an article on...
2. Alternate Data Streams Windows 2003 Test Needless to say, I was inspired by an article on...
3. Spyware and Adware: How do you get it? How do you get it?...
4. Is your Anti-Spyware really Spyware? These days, Spyware and Adware protection has become a must-have....
5. Spyware and Adware: Can Anyone get it? Can Anyone get it?...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.