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Date:      Sat, 20 Nov 1999 11:08:52 -0700
From:      Nate Williams <nate@mt.sri.com>
To:        Eivind Eklund <eivind@FreeBSD.ORG>
Cc:        Nate Williams <nate@mt.sri.com>, Matthew Dillon <dillon@apollo.backplane.com>, security@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Disabling FTP (was Re: Why not sandbox BIND?)
Message-ID:  <199911201808.LAA10767@mt.sri.com>
In-Reply-To: <19991120190417.I602@bitbox.follo.net>
References:  <4.2.0.58.19991111220759.044f46d0@localhost> <Pine.BSF.4.10.9911120922190.85007-100000@jade.chc-chimes.c <4.2.0.58.19991112102309.045abf00@localhost> <19991112173306.D76708@florence.pavilion.net> <19991112212912.Z57266@rucus.ru.ac.za> <199911121946.LAA24616@apollo.backplane.com> <199911122114.OAA20606@mt.sri.com> <19991113012855.A62879@fasterix.frmug.org> <199911130031.RAA21117@mt.sri.com> <19991120190417.I602@bitbox.follo.net>

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> > > > > Speaking of default system configurations - what do people think about
> > > > > turning off the 'ftp' service in the default configuration?
> > > > 
> > > > Personally, I don't like it.  At least, not until SSH becomes a default
> > > > protocol in the system, since otherwise there is no way to transfer
> > > > files to/from FreeBSD boxes easily.
> > > 
> > > You could still easily reenable ftpd if you need it.
> > 
> > Or, you could still easily disable ftpd since you almost *always* need
> > it right away.
> 
> I've never, ever needed it.  It transfers *cleartext* passwords.  My
> view is that it is not usable for anything but anonymous FTP.

So?  *Most* of the FreeBSD boxes I setup are behind firewalls, or are
un-connected to the 'real' internet at first.  I need something so I can
transfer files to/from them to get them up and running initially.

> > > Given recent vulnerability history on many ftp daemons, I think it
> > > might be safer to disable FTP by default.
> > 
> > FreeBSD's ftpd is not succeptible.  Given the argument, why don't we
> > disable *ALL* network access, since all are suspect to breakins. :( (I'm
> > kidding of course...)
> 
> I am in favour of disabling all network access to boxes as they come
> from install.

NOT!  Then we'd be worse than a windoze box.

I think most of you 'ISP' types are forgetting that *MOST* of the
FreeBSD boxes out there are installed by users, not big businesses.

Making the box unusable for most people, but 'secure' for a very small
portio of people is not a winning strategy.



Nate


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