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Date:      Thu, 12 Jul 2001 18:12:57 -0400
From:      Robert Hough <rch@acidpit.org>
To:        freebsd-isp@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: gcc on production server
Message-ID:  <20010712181257.A71299@acidpit.org>
In-Reply-To: <20010712123523.G53408@jake.akitanet.co.uk>; from paul@akita.co.uk on Thu, Jul 12, 2001 at 12:35:23 %2B0100
References:  <20010711170336.B84178@krijt.livens.net> <20010711123133.A21587@pitr.tuxinternet.com> <20010712123523.G53408@jake.akitanet.co.uk>

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On Thu, Jul 12, 2001, Paul Robinson wrote:

> > The first and best layer of defence for your web server is the network. TURN
> > OFF EVERYTHING YOU DON'T USE. don't ever use anything with a password clear
> > text.. telnet, ftp,pop mail etc... 
> 
> I'm sorry, but for a moment then I thought this was freebsd-isp, but if
> you're going to take that approach, then you can't be an ISP.

Since when does a web server need popper, ftp, or telnet enabled? I'm
just going by the paragraph above, as I don't have the original here.
However, I'm pretty sure he said the best defense for a web server.

> > /usr/local/sbin directory. then I have gone through and changed ANYTHING
> > a user wouldn't need to run to execute only by root (-r-x------)
> 
> Ummmm.... you really don't need to do that. I'm not saying anything. I'm
> sure somebody else will. That really is not the point of the unix
> permissions system....

I would have to agree, and it sounds to me like he is running as root
90% of the time he is on the system. Shame on him!

> > I do regular scans on my system, run tripwire... things like that...
> 
> Well done. Have a lollipop. :-)

Hmm, what good is a tripwire scan going to do you, if the cracker has
"fixed" the database? Take that lollipop away! The "read-only" drive
solution works well for this actually.

> > if you are REALLY worried about security, get a drive that has a jumper you
> > can change to read only, put your  operating system on it, move the jumper
> 
> Ummmm... that's not clever. That's stupid. So, you're an ISP. If you're
> running this system, exactly how do you deliver mail, allow users to change
> webpages, etc? Oh yeah, and just out or curiosity, what happens to /var and
> /tmp ? As one colleague just replied when I read that paragraph to him
> "that's not an OS - it's a coaster". I hope it keeps your coffee warm.

Hmm, maybe you can explain to me why /, /usr, and /usr/local need to be
writtable on a production machine? I can't think of any real reason's
myself. We actually use this setup here, and it works quite well. YMMV.

> I understand what you're trying to get at, but there is a LOT more to
> getting such a system working than you might think.

Not really, just takes a little thought is all. It *is* however, a pain
in the ass to take an existing system and move it to this type of setup
though.

-- 
Robert Hough (rch@acidpit.org)

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