Ubuntu Security Notice 4054-2 - USN-4054-1 fixed vulnerabilities in Firefox. The update introduced various minor regressions. This update fixes the problems. A sandbox escape was discovered in Firefox. If a user were tricked in to installing a malicious language pack, an attacker could exploit this to gain additional privileges. Multiple security issues were discovered in Firefox. If a user were tricked in to opening a specially crafted website, an attacker could potentially exploit these to cause a denial of service, obtain sensitive information, bypass same origin restrictions, conduct cross-site scripting attacks, conduct cross-site request forgery attacks, spoof origin attributes, spoof the addressbar contents, bypass safebrowsing protections, or execute arbitrary code. It was discovered that Firefox treats all files in a directory as same origin. If a user were tricked in to downloading a specially crafted HTML file, an attacker could potentially exploit this to obtain sensitive information from local files. Various other issues were also addressed.

Ubuntu Security Notice 4202-2 - USN-4202-1 fixed vulnerabilities in Thunderbird. After upgrading, Thunderbird created a new profile for some users. This update fixes the problem. It was discovered that a specially crafted S/MIME message with an inner encryption layer could be displayed as having a valid signature in some circumstances, even if the signer had no access to the encrypted message. An attacker could potentially exploit this to spoof the message author. Multiple security issues were discovered in Thunderbird. If a user were tricked in to opening a specially crafted website in a browsing context, an attacker could potentially exploit these to cause a denial of service, bypass security restrictions, bypass same-origin restrictions, conduct cross-site scripting attacks, or execute arbitrary code. A heap overflow was discovered in the expat library in Thunderbird. If a user were tricked in to opening a specially crafted message, an attacker could potentially exploit this to cause a denial of service, or execute arbitrary code.

Ubuntu Security Notice 4299-1 - Multiple security issues were discovered in Firefox. If a user were tricked in to opening a specially crafted website, an attacker could potentially exploit these to cause a denial of service, spoof the URL or other browser chrome, obtain sensitive information, bypass Content Security Policy protections, or execute arbitrary code. Various other issues were also addressed.

A git clone action can leak cached / stored credentials for github.com to example.com due to insecure handling of newlines in the credential helper protocol.

Rootkit Hunter scans files and systems for known and unknown rootkits, backdoors, and sniffers. The package contains one shell script, a few text-based databases, and optional Perl modules. It should run on almost every Unix variety except Solaris and NetBSD.

Rootstealer is a program to detect when a linux user opens a terminal with root and it injects intrusive commands in the terminal with X11.

Online Clothing Store version 1.0 suffers from a remote SQL injection vulnerability.

Transferable Remote version 1.1 for iPad and iPhone suffers from cross site scripting, remote command injection, and local file inclusion vulnerabilities.

WordPress Windows Desktop and iPhone Photo Uploader plugin suffers from a remote shell upload vulnerability.

qdPM versions prior to 9.1 suffer from a remote shell upload vulnerability that allows for remote code execution.

graph_realtime.php in Cacti 1.2.8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via shell metacharacters in a cookie if a guest user has the graph real-time privilege.

Ubuntu Security Notice 4294-1 - It was discovered that OpenSMTPD mishandled certain input. A remote, unauthenticated attacker could use this vulnerability to execute arbitrary shell commands as any non-root user. It was discovered that OpenSMTPD did not properly handle hardlinks under certain conditions. An unprivileged local attacker could read the first line of any file on the filesystem.

This Metasploit module exploits a flaw where an authenticated user with sufficient administrative rights to manage pollers can use this functionality to execute arbitrary commands remotely. Usually, the miscellaneous commands are used by the additional modules (to perform certain actions), by the scheduler for data processing, etc. This module uses this functionality to obtain a remote shell on the target.

This Metasploit module exploits a shell command injection vulnerability in the libnotify plugin. This vulnerability affects Metasploit versions 5.0.79 and earlier.

IBM Data Risk Manager (IDRM) contains three vulnerabilities that can be chained by an unauthenticated attacker to achieve remote code execution as root. The first is an unauthenticated bypass, followed by a command injection as the server user, and finally abuse of an insecure default password. This module exploits all three vulnerabilities, giving the attacker a root shell. At the time of disclosure, this is a 0day. Versions 2.0.3 and below are confirmed to be affected, and the latest 2.0.6 is most likely affected too.

Bluelog is a Bluetooth scanner/logger written with speed in mind. It is intended to be used as a site survey tool, concerned more about accurately detecting the number of discoverable Bluetooth devices than individual device specifics. Bluelog also includes the unique "Bluelog Live" mode, which puts discovered devices into a constantly updating live webpage which you can serve up with your HTTP daemon of choice.

Bluelog is a Bluetooth scanner/logger written with speed in mind. It is intended to be used as a site survey tool, concerned more about accurately detecting the number of discoverable Bluetooth devices than individual device specifics. Bluelog also includes the unique "Bluelog Live" mode, which puts discovered devices into a constantly updating live webpage which you can serve up with your HTTP daemon of choice.

DA-WIN, a wireless IDS, provides an organization a continuous wireless scanning capability that is light touch and simple. It utilizes compact and discreet sensors that can easily be deployed reducing the total cost of protection and simplifying the effort required for absolute, categoric regulatory compliance. This archive includes a dd image to be used on a Raspberry Pi and a user manual.

DA-WIN, a wireless IDS, provides an organization a continuous wireless scanning capability that is light touch and simple. It utilizes compact and discreet sensors that can easily be deployed reducing the total cost of protection and simplifying the effort required for absolute, categoric regulatory compliance. This archive includes a dd image to be used on a Raspberry Pi and a user manual.

Synaccess netBooter NP-02x and NP-08x version 6.8 suffer from an authentication bypass vulnerability due to a missing control check when calling the webNewAcct.cgi script while creating users. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to create an admin user account and bypass authentication giving her the power to turn off a power supply to a resource.

This Metasploit module exploits an arbitrary command execution vulnerability in Webmin versions 1.900 and below. Any user authorized to the "Java file manager" and "Upload and Download" fields, to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. In addition, "Running Processes" field must be authorized to discover the directory to be uploaded. A vulnerable file can be printed on the original files of the Webmin application. The vulnerable file we are uploading should be integrated with the application. Therefore, a ".cgi" file with the vulnerability belong to webmin application should be used. The module has been tested successfully with Webmin version 1.900 over Debian 4.9.18.

devolo dLAN 550 duo+ version 3.1.0-1 suffers from a remote code execution vulnerability. The devolo firmware has what seems to be a 'hidden' services which can be enabled by authenticated attacker via the the htmlmgr CGI script. This allows the attacker to start services that are deprecated or discontinued and achieve remote arbitrary code execution with root privileges.

An exploitable remote code execution vulnerability exists in the upload.cgi functionality of Sierra Wireless AirLink ES450 FW 4.9.3. A specially crafted HTTP request can upload a file, resulting in executable code being uploaded, and routable, to the webserver. An attacker can make an authenticated HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability.

Ubuntu Security Notice 4059-1 - It was discovered that Squid incorrectly handled certain SNMP packets. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause memory consumption, leading to a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. It was discovered that Squid incorrectly handled the cachemgr.cgi web module. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to conduct cross-site scripting attacks. Various other issues were also addressed.

D-Link DIR-859 Routers are vulnerable to OS command injection via the UPnP interface. The vulnerability exists in /gena.cgi (function genacgi_main() in /htdocs/cgibin), which is accessible without credentials.

In this age of increasing hacks and cybercrime, the Norman Rockwell Museum has a lot of digital assets, museum operations data, and private patron data that need to be protected. Find out why Frank Kennedy, IT manager at the Rockwell museum, chose Veritas Backup Exec to be a key part of the museum's security strategy.

About the Museum

Norman Rockwell is one of the great iconic painters and illustrators of American life in the 20th century. His hundreds of covers for the Saturday Evening Post magazine alone are a national treasure. The Norman Rockwell Museum is located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where Rockwell spent the last part of his celebrated life. The museum started two years before Rockwell's death in 1978 and houses over 100,000 of his works and also those of other illustrators.

The museum now has 140,000 annual visitors, and 220,000 people view its traveling exhibitions each year. It also has an active website with more than 600,000 worldwide unique visitors per year.

The Museum's IT System

IT Manager Frank Kennedy is an IT department of one (plus an occasional contractor). He supports 90 staff and volunteers and is responsible for critical information security and data protection for the museum.

The museum's IT network consists of several large physical servers and many single-purpose virtual machines. The single-purpose virtual machines allow for emergency service without disrupting other departments.

Frank says, "Most of our enterprise software is procured via TechSoup, which makes it affordable to license so many servers! We do not have to make do with weak, low-budget software."

Digital Assets: Preserving Art over the Long Term

Frank Kennedy explains that digital assets are of increasing importance in the work of museums. There are high-resolution images or copies of art works that must be carefully stored to preserve work in its best condition. He says that digital versions are often irreplaceable, as when the original object is disintegrating or would be damaged by further handling.

The digital versions keep a faithful record of the art in its best state. The most sensitive objects of this museum include a collection of Rockwell's cellulose nitrate film negatives, which deteriorate over time.

The museum also has analog audio and video tape and motion picture film that deteriorates, as well as works on paper that degrade with exposure to light. Other crucial data for the museum includes databases for collection management, point of sale records, donor management, and email.

Frank's backup system is designed to be redundant on purpose. He says, "Protecting this data means keeping many copies in many places. Doing so becomes a big challenge when the size of the data becomes several terabytes. I use many layers of redundancy."

The Backup Crisis

As the museum's data got bigger and bigger, and server patches piled on, the museum's previous backup solution eventually became unstable. Frank reports that his backups were failing constantly and causing him stress in his careful, risk-based management approach. When he first went to get a new backup solution from TechSoup, he discovered that what he needed was not available.

He says, "The cost for the options I use would have been over $4,000 per year, unbudgeted. TechSoup responded to users' desperate cry and worked with Veritas to bring Backup Exec back to TechSoup! I can't even describe my relief. Veritas Backup Exec is better than ever. It is so stable that I get suspicious and have to go look just to be sure it's really working!"

Why the Norman Rockwell Museum Chose Backup Exec over Other Options

Frank told me that the license he gets from TechSoup includes every option his museum needs. These options and features include

• Exchange Server backup
• Unlimited media server backups
• Unlimited agents for specific applications like VMware, Windows, Linux, and so on
• Simplified disaster recovery
• Protection against accidental deletion, damage, or overwriting
• Storing backups to disk, network share, tape (any type), or cloud — or all four at once
• Virtual machine snapshots that are viewable directly from the host's agent
• A deduplication engine so backed-up data is as clean as possible
• Backup retention periods that can be defined per job and per media server
• An excellent graphical user interface
• The status of every backed-up resource available at a glance
• Sending an email to the admin when anything goes wrong
• Running several jobs simultaneously (depending on server horsepower)

Advice for Museums and Other Organizations Considering Veritas Backup Exec

• Backup Exec is powerful software geared toward backing up an entire network. It requires some study to do the installation and learn the software.
• You don't get phone support with the charity licensing, so you need to be comfortable Googling for answers and working in the Veritas community support forum.
• Frank recommends dedicating a strong server for running the software. He likes eight cores and 32 GB of RAM; hot-swappable, hot-growable RAID-5; fast network connectivity; and a very large uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
• Avoid the temptation to install other services or applications on what seems to be a machine that is often idle.

In a Nutshell

Frank's experience is that "Veritas Backup Exec is the best, most reliable, most flexible, and versatile backup software you can get. Commit the needed resources to operate it, and you will be rewarded with peace of mind and business continuity. Your donors will be pleased that you are protecting their investment so carefully."

Image: Norman Rockwell Museum / All rights reserved / Used with permission

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In 2015, the state of Louisiana consumed more energy per capita than any other state, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Although this may not come as a complete surprise — the state's warm, muggy climate makes air conditioning a must — it's clear that Louisiana's energy-use profile needs a drastic transformation.

The Energy Wise Alliance (EWA), a small nonprofit based in New Orleans, is determined to do just that. Along the way, the organization has gotten a boost from Microsoft's MileIQ app.

MileIQ is a mobile app from Microsoft that automatically tracks the miles you've traveled and records all of your tax-deductible and reimbursable mileage. It's kind of like using a Fitbit, except you're tracking your driving. You can report your business drives on demand and claim your reimbursements or maximize your tax deductions. The average MileIQ user is logging $6,900 per year.

Building a More Energy-Efficient Community

EWA works to make energy efficiency more accessible to everyone. The organization works primarily with low-income families, tenants, and others who would otherwise be left out of the green energy revolution. EWA accomplishes its goals through both workshops and equipment upgrades at homes and businesses.

Its Energy Smart for Kids program teaches students throughout the state how to lead a more energy-efficient lifestyle. These hourlong sessions cover the pitfalls of nonrenewable energy and detail more sustainable alternatives. At the end of each session, EWA volunteers hand out energy-efficiency starter kits so students can apply what they learned at home.

Much like the rest of EWA's programs, Energy Smart for Kids serves underserved and underprivileged communities. In fact, many of the schools that EWA serves are Title 1 schools — schools whose students generally come from lower-income households.

Aside from schools, EWA also helps nonprofits become more sustainable.

Making Nonprofits Greener and More Cost-Efficient

Nonprofits can benefit from EWA's work by way of simple but effective power-saving retrofits. EWA also provides volunteer labor and donates the materials for the retrofits, which means added cost savings. And as we all know, cost-saving programs are like gold dust for nonprofits.

For example, volunteers from EWA revitalized the Victorian-era headquarters of the Alliance Française, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Francophone heritage in the New Orleans community, with sustainable retrofits. As part of these upgrades, EWA sealed cracks, gaps, and openings; installed additional insulation; and programmed new thermostats.

In addition, EWA gave the Alliance Française's volunteers a hands-on demonstration of behavioral changes so that they could bring this knowledge back home. EWA anticipated that the Alliance Française would save a total of $2,000 to $3,000 as a result of these green improvements.

EWA's staff members also actively save money and operate more efficiently through the use of the mile-tracking app MileIQ.

Saving Time and Money with MileIQ

This method, as you can imagine, was time-consuming, and it brought with it the risk of human error. Most people can't possibly remember every single trip they make with their car, after all.

"MileIQ is super accurate and takes the forgetting out of the equation," said Jamie Wine, executive director of EWA.

For Kevin Kellup, education coordinator at EWA, MileIQ has been a game-changer. Jamie explained, "Kevin drives like crazy from school to school," racking up miles on his personal car. Now, thanks to MileIQ, Kevin can get more fairly and accurately reimbursed for his constant traveling.

The most important benefit of Microsoft's MileIQ for Jamie is that his staff can be correctly reimbursed for mileage. He wants to show staff members that he values their time and effort spent traveling, which MileIQ really helps him achieve.

For nonprofits, particularly small ones like EWA, it's always great when the team can receive fair compensation for its hard work. "The staff doesn't get paid much," Jamie said. And considering how important staff members' work is to the community, every penny matters. That's also where TechSoup comes in.

TechSoup's Role: "Essential"

Through TechSoup, eligible nonprofits can get MileIQ at 80 percent off the subscription rate. "Without TechSoup," Jamie noted, "this huge step up in technology" would not have been possible. The MileIQ discount program from Microsoft has made acquiring MileIQ way easier on the nonprofit's pocket.

Having also previously obtained Microsoft Office 365 and QuickBooks Online through TechSoup, Jamie said, "TechSoup is a great equalizer." He mentioned that TechSoup helps a small nonprofit to grow into a technologically advanced organization. He added, "The super discounted products from TechSoup are like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow."

Getting MileIQ Premium

Eligible nonprofits can get MileIQ at 80 percent off the individual subscription rate through TechSoup and can request an unlimited number of individual subscriptions. In addition to individual subscriptions, MileIQ is now included with an Office 365 Business Premium license. Nonprofits who currently do not have an Office 365 license can visit Microsoft's Office 365 for nonprofits page to register.

This blog post was written by Nicholas Fuchs.

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Older adults are at an increased risk of lacking company and being socially isolated. Recent studies prove that a lack of social relationships is as strong a risk factor for mortality as are smoking, obesity, or a lack of physical activity. Enter Little Brothers.

Little Brothers is an effort dedicated to spreading awareness and relieving isolation and loneliness in elders, a problem that often goes unseen. Little Brothers is in 7 U.S. cities and 10 countries worldwide. Its mission is carried out by more than one nonprofit organization.

Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly San Francisco facilitates more than 4,000 friendly visits a year. Volunteers are matched with elders in San Francisco, and they form and build a relationship through home visits, outings, or common interests.

We recently met with Andrew Butler, the program manager at Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly San Francisco. He explained that many volunteers form a relationship with an elder, and their stereotypes about older people are quickly broken down.

"A lot of what we do is creating awareness. I think a lot of the information that we share through training or events really inspires people," said Butler. He also suggested that we speak with a member of Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly San Francisco, Andy Morgan, to get a proper feel for the organization.

Andy Morgan is a highly spiritual 86-year-old who loves to read. Originally from Transylvania, Andy came to San Francisco in 1962 and has worked a variety of jobs throughout his life.

However, he stresses that he has never defined himself by what he did for a living. Aside from books and his spirituality, Andy values personal relationships and enjoys company.

Our conversation with Andy revealed why Little Brothers' impact matters so much.

I wanted to ask if you have any main visitors.

Andy Morgan: Yeah! I have one main visitor come every week. Rain or shine, he comes and sees me. He brings me food from Trader Joe's, and he does my laundry.

Wow, that's a sweet deal. Would you share a particular visit that has stuck with you over the years?

There's nothing that stands out; every visit is enjoyable. What we usually do is grab a spiritual book, you know, all those books over there are on spirituality, and we read from it and then we discuss it. I've been on the spiritual path since the 1960s, so if he has any questions, I can try and clarify.

I was wondering what makes you happy.

What makes me happy? Knowing that my within-ness, that which makes me breathe and which makes me exist, is pure joy and pure love. When you do a lot of meditation, something opens up within you, and I just feel, practically all the time, this feeling of love and joy and peace.

Of course no one can maintain that 24/7, but I can always come back. If something goes wrong, I can just remind myself of my true nature.

That's beautiful. Thank you so much for opening your home to us.

My pleasure; it's been a joy having you guys. Could I just read you one very short poem? It says …

Be as a Flower

Truth is very simple
A flower does not try to be beautiful.
Its True Nature is Beauty.
Just by its Very Being.

In the same way, when you Awaken
To your true nature,
You will naturally exude Love,
Compassion, Beauty.
It is all you.
For it is your True Self.

(poem by Robert Adams)

TechSoup is proud to support our member, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly San Francisco, in its mission to spread awareness about and help elders at risk of loneliness and isolation. There are incredible people like Andy all over the world who are at risk of being forgotten. But they should never be. TechSoup provides technology and services to Little Brothers staff members to help run their nonprofit so that they can focus on fighting the effects of elder isolation.

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In Week 1 of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) we looked at spoofed emails, cybercriminals' preferred method of spreading malware. Today, in an effort to provide you with the best information out there to keep you safe online, we're hitting you with a double dose of cybersafety news.

Let's take look at the topics for Week 2 and 3 of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month: malware and password security. They're separate but related issues in the world of Internet crime prevention, and a better understanding of each is key to protecting your property and personal information in today's digital world.

Malware

Malware is an umbrella term used to describe software that is intended to damage or disable computers and computer systems. If you'd like, you can take a moment and watch this video on malware from Norton Security. But the best way to begin protecting yourself against this stuff is to learn about all the different types of malware that can affect your computer. There are tons, so we'll just go over the broader categories for now.

Viruses: Malicious bits of code that replicate by copying themselves to another program, computer boot sector, or document and change how a computer works. Viruses are typically attached to an executable file or program and spread once a user opens that file and executes it.

Worms: They're like viruses, but are different in terms of the way they're spread. Worms typically exploit a vulnerability or a weakness that allows an attacker to reduce a system's information assurance. Missed that last Windows update? You might be more vulnerable to worms.

Trojans: These look like legitimate pieces of software and are activated after a user executes them. Unlike a virus or a worm, a trojan does not replicate a copy of itself. Instead, it lurks silently in the background, compromising users' sensitive personal data.

Ransomware: This refers to a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing their system, either by locking the system's screen or by locking or threatening to erase the users' files unless a ransom is paid. You may recall the WannaCry attack that affected users across the globe this summer, only to be thwarted by the accidental discovery of a "kill switch" that saved people from the malicious software.

Spyware: This malware collects your personal information (such as credit card numbers) and often passes this information along to third parties online without you knowing.

You can check out more descriptions and examples of the types of malware that exist today at MalwareFox, a malware detection and removal software program.

Tips for Protecting Yourself Against Malware

Staying malware-free doesn't require an engineering degree. You can greatly reduce, if not completely eliminate, your chances of falling victim to malware by following these easy tips.

• Keep your operating system current.
• Keep your software up to date, particularly the software you use to browse the Internet.
• Install antivirus and security software and schedule weekly scans. At TechSoup, we're protected by Symantec Endpoint Protection. At home, there are dozens of solutions you can use to protect yourself (PCMag lists many here).
• Mind where you click. Think twice before you download torrent videos or free Microsoft Office templates from some random website.
• Avoid public, nonpassword, nonencrypted Wi-Fi connections when you can. Use a VPN when you cannot.

Spread the Word

Let people know that TechSoup is helping you become more #CyberAware by sharing a message on your social media channels. If you tag @TechSoup on Twitter, we'll retweet the first two tweets. Remember, we're all in this together.

Password Security

Now that we've covered the nasty stuff that can make your life miserable if it ends up on your computer, let's go over some password security tips to help prevent malware from getting there in the first place. Using best practices when it comes to protecting your passwords is a proven way to protect your personal and financial information. Curious how knowledgeable you already are? Watch this video and take this quiz to enter a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card!

First, let's go over some facts.

• Passwords are the first line of defense to protect your personal and financial information.
• A weak password can allow viruses to gain access to your computer and spread through TechSoup's or your family's network.
• It's estimated that 73 percent of users have the same password for multiple sites and 33 percent use the same password every time. (Source: Digicert, May 2014)
• Despite a small sample size of 1,110 U.S. adults, a recent YouGov survey still found that 28 percent of adults use the same passwords for most of their online accounts. (Source: Business Insider, October 2017).

Best Practices for Effective Password Protection

One great way to better protect yourself is by opting for a passphrase, which is much more difficult to crack than a single-word password. Here are some guidelines to creating one.

• Pick a famous quote or saying and use the first letter of each word.
• Add a number that you can remember.
• Capitalize one letter.
• Make it unique by adding the first letter of your company's name to the beginning or end of the passphrase.
• Make it between 16 and 24 characters.

You should never write your password down, but if you must, never store user IDs and passwords together. Finally — even though it might seem unwieldy — you should always use a different password for each site that requires one. In today's world, everything is connected. A savvy hacker can easily breach your bank account, email, and medical records in one fell swoop if you're using the same password for all three.

Additional Cybersecurity Resources

In case you missed it, take a look at last week's post on recognizing suspicious emails.

Need a little inspiration? Find out how TechSoup and Symantec are making a difference in the lives of at-risk teens.

Get more security tips from the National Cyber Security Alliance. National Cyber Security Alliance Month — observed every October — was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online. Find out how you can get involved.

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