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             The Computer Incident Advisory Capability
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                         Information Bulletin       

                       Update on Internet Activity

December 10, 1990, 1300 PST                                Number B-9

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PROBLEM:  Apparent intrusion attempts from Italy on machines connected to 
    the Internet
PLATFORM: UNIX computers on the Internet 
DAMAGE:   None
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                  Critical Facts about Internet Activity 

CIAC has been receiving numerous inquiries about reports of apparent
intrusion attempts originating from Milano, Italy.  Information
currently available suggests that there has been an increase in
activity on the Internet originating from Milano.  The problem,
however, does not appear to be due to network intruders.  A computer
security researcher at the State University of Milano, Italy has been
testing a program to check for known bugs.  His test has produced
numerous symptoms normally associated with cracker attacks, and has
alerted many system managers throughout the Internet community.   This
activity has now ceased, and there does not appear to be any potential
for damage as a result of this test.  The researcher who conducted this
test has contacted the system managers whose systems were probed by
this program.

NOTE:  This program tests for vulnerabilities exploited by the 1988
Internet Worm, commonly known as the Morris Worm.  This program is
still available from some anonymous ftp sites, and could be used by
anyone to determine whether it is possible to intrude into a UNIX
system.  A number of systems tested by this program still had unpatched
bugs in the ftp, tftp, rsh, sendmail and finger utilities.  If you are
unsure whether systems at your site could be attacked through these
avenues, please contact CIAC:

  David S. Brown (415) 423-9878 or (FTS) 543-9878

  or

  Eugene Schultz
  (415) 422-7781 or (FTS) 532-7781

  or call (415) 422-8193 or (FTS) 532-8193

  send FAX messages to:  (415) 423-0913 or (FTS) 543-0913

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