Thursday, July 30, 2009

Data Detailing New York Stock Exchange Network Exposed on Unsecured Server

Via Wired.com (Threat Level) -

Sensitive information about the technical infrastructure of the New York Stock Exchange’s computer network was left unsecured on a public server for possibly more than a year, Threat Level has learned.

The data, which was removed after Threat Level disclosed the situation to the NYSE, included several directories of files containing logs; server names; IP addresses; lists of hardware; lists of software versions running on the network; and configuration and patch histories, including what patches have not yet been installed. It was all available on a publicly accessible, unprotected FTP server maintained by EMC, a company that sells storage systems and managed services to the NYSE and other companies.

“We have discussed the matter with EMC and at this point we believe that there has been no impact on our operations or our customers,” said NYSE spokeswoman Mirtha Medina in an e-mail.

“Unless the NYSE knows that this stuff is out there and has approved for it to be out there (highly doubtful), I see no good reason why EMC is allowing this to happen,” said an information security specialist via e-mail who asked not to be named because he works in the financial industry. “Leaving information like this in a ‘public’ place definitely would make a bad guy’s job somewhat easier.”

The information could allow an intruder to map the NYSE’s network architecture and determine what vulnerabilities exist in the system.

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