Jim Hoagland: Vista Network Attack Surface Analysis and Teredo Security Implications

Summary: This talk will present the results of a broad analysis performed on the network-facing components of the release (RTM) version of Microsoft Windows Vista, as well as the results of study of the security implications of the related Teredo protocol. Windows Vista features a rewritten network stack, which introduces a number of core behavior changes. New protocols include IPv6 and related protocols, LLTD, LLMNR, SMB2, PNRP, PNM, and WSD. One of the IPv4-IPv6 transition mechanisms provided by Vista is Teredo, which tunnels IPv6 through a NAT by using IPv4 UDP. This provides globally usable IPv6 addresses without the knowledge or cooperation of any part of local network. The main security concerns raised by Teredo involves security controls being bypassed, defense in depth reduced, and unsolicited traffic being allowed by the protocol. Other security concerns with Teredo include the capability of remote nodes to open the NAT for themselves, worms, ways to deny Teredo service, the difficulty in finding all Teredo traffic to inspect, and a new phishing mechanism.