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Microsoft Bypasses HOSTS File - TechAmok
Microsoft Bypasses HOSTS File - [security] 09:35 AM EDT - Apr,17 2006 - post a comment Dave Korn announced on the Full Disclosure and Bugtraq security lists that
Microsoft is bypassing local lookups for some hosts, meaning that you can't
locally block some sites through your HOSTS file. All of these sites are
MicroSoft controlled sites:
DomainScreenList:
windowsupdate.microsoft.com
windowsupdate.com
microsoftupdate.com
download.microsoft.com
update.microsoft.com
HostsScreenList:
microsoft.com
www.microsoft.com
support.microsoft.com
wustats.microsoft.com
microsoftupdate.microsoft.com
office.microsoft.com
msdn.microsoft.com
go.microsoft.com
msn.com
www.msn.com
msdn.com
www.msdn.com
A quick check suggests that this behavior debuted with XP SP2, and is present on
2003 SP1 as well. (I haven't looked at 2003 RTM, but it would be interesting if
someone please would.) Although one could argue that this measure is intended to
thwart attempts to block updating Microsoft products, it's indefensible because:
1) It's a point-in-time, cat-and-mouse defense against an ephemeral malware
technique, a change that causes permanent headaches in situations like yours,
and the potential for negative publicity as a result.
2) As far as I know, their malicious software removal tool didn't exist back
when this behavior was created, so what good was keeping access to Microsoft
open going to do an infected system? What good does it do to install a patch for
a vulnerability that's already been exploited onto the computer of the
archetypal "home user"?
3) Although it falls in line with removing raw sockets and limiting half-open
TCP connections, making these Microsoft hosts and domain unfilterable is even
more egregious because of the implications you mentioned, and because this
behavior was never publicly documented.
4) Their selectiveness seems unfair. I'm sure all the antivirus/antispyware
companies whose domains regularly end up in hosts-files would love to be added
to the list, too. (So would everyone else whose software reports "anonymous
usage statistics" and all the other companies making money from web
advertising.*) Going back to #3, it would have been more disruptive but less
controversial if they had removed regard for the hosts-file entirely, or made
the resolver only consult the hosts-file after all else failed, thereby
preventing it from being used for blocking. It's not a great analogy, but this
move is sort of like if they had only blocked raw IP packets headed for a
Microsoft IP address, instead of raw sockets entirely.
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