Securing Mail Servers: Disabling the EXPN and VRFY Commands

As a system administrator, you're likely familiar with the importance of securing your email infrastructure. One often-overlooked aspect of email security is the configuration of certain mail server options, specifically EXPN and VRFY. In this blog post, we'll delve into the risks associated with enabling these commands and provide guidance on how to mitigate them. What are EXPN and VRFY? EXPN (Expand Group) and VRFY (Verify) were once-used email commands that allowed administrators to expand mailing lists or verify a user's existence, respectively. While these features may seem harmless, they can pose significant security risks if left enabled on your mail server. The Risks of Enabling EXPN When EXPN is enabled on your mail server, it allows users to retrieve information about internal mailing lists and group memberships. This can be a treasure trove for attackers seeking to exploit this information for malicious purposes. Some potential risks include: Exposure of…

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Critical 7-Zip Vulnerability: What You Need to Know About the Arbitrary Code Execution Flaw

When it comes to file compression and archiving software, 7-Zip has long been a go-to tool for millions of users worldwide. Known for its powerful capabilities, simplicity, and open-source nature, 7-Zip enjoys widespread adoption across both Windows and Linux platforms. However, a recent vulnerability uncovered in the software has put its users at serious risk, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on compromised systems. In this blog post, we'll discuss what the vulnerability entails, its potential impact, and the steps you should take to safeguard your systems. The Vulnerability: Exploit for Arbitrary Code Execution The discovered vulnerability in 7-Zip highlights a weakness that could allow attackers to exploit specific operations within the software to execute arbitrary code. Arbitrary code execution vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they enable malicious actors to run any code of their choosing, effectively giving them full control over a victim's system. Reports indicate that this flaw…

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Upcoming Event: Balancing Mental Health in Cybersecurity – Join Our December Session with Patrick Kelley

Cybersecurity isn't just about protecting data; it's about protecting people-ourselves included. At Critical Path Security, we know firsthand the weight of constant threats, the ever-evolving landscape of cyber risks, and the toll it can take on the mental well-being of those in the trenches. That's why we're proud to have our own Patrick Kelley speaking at the ISC2 Saskatchewan Chapter event, focusing on Mental Health in Cybersecurity: Balancing the Scales. Join us on December 5th, 2024, at 6:00 PM CST for an open discussion about the unique mental health challenges facing cybersecurity professionals today. Patrick will cover essential strategies for managing stress, preventing burnout, and creating a culture that supports resilience. This is a session you won't want to miss. Special thanks to the ISC2 Saskatchewan board members-TJ Odugbesan, Milton Calnek, Imran Khan, Dallas Bobryk, Sean McKim, and Dr. Kayode Alawonde-for making this conversation possible. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g76H8HUG Let's redefine…

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The Dangers of Cross-Domain JavaScript Source Inclusion

Cross-domain JavaScript source inclusion is a common practice used to load external scripts, libraries, or services on websites. While it's convenient to include third-party code, this approach poses significant security risks if not implemented correctly. In this blog post, we'll explore the dangers of cross-domain JavaScript source inclusion and provide best practices for handling them. What are Cross-Domain Requests? Cross-domain requests occur when a website attempts to load external resources from another domain. When a script from one domain (the origin) tries to access or modify resources on another domain (the target), it triggers a security check. Modern browsers enforce the same-origin policy, which restricts scripts from accessing resources across different domains. Dangers of Cross-Domain JavaScript Source Inclusion: XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) Attacks: Malicious scripts can inject malicious code into your website. These scripts may steal sensitive information or create vulnerabilities for attackers to exploit. Data Theft: External scripts may access user…

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