Security Expert Dan Kaminsky Seeks Source Code Input
“This is a little rough, but I want to get the code out there.”
That's how security expert Dan Kaminsky starts out his Install.txt file that accompanies his brand-new security tool, Interpolique, released in a hurry on Monday to fight recent SQL injection attacks such as those that compromised the Web sites of The Wall Street Journal and others.
Interpolique, available for download for examination by experts, was described Monday by DarkReading.com as “a tool for application developers that helps prevent pervasive string injection-type attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).”
DarkReading said the tool is designed to relieve developers from much of the burden of providing security measures in their code. Kaminsky told the site: “Security development tends not to care how inconvenient it is for developers. [This is] about meeting developers halfway."
But don't try using it quite just yet -- DarkReading reported the tool was released for experts to investigate and provide feedback, and not for operational use. Kaminsky is expected to share the feedback at next month's BlackHat USA security conference in Las Vegas.
And you'd better know what you're doing if you want to fool around with Interpolique, produced by the Kaminsky-headed Recursion Ventures. The skimpy install file, which comes with a bunch of C, SQL, PHP and JavaScript files, includes directions like:
Compile the MySQL Base64 UDF with:
gcc -Wall -I/usr/include/mysql -shared lib_mysqludf_str.c -olib_mysqludf_str.so
But if you are an expert, feel free to join the fight and help. Kaminsky himself issued the invitation in the Install file: “Let's figure out what's up,” he said.
If you check out the code, let us know what you think. Comment here or send me an e-mail.
Posted by David Ramel on 06/17/2010