That everything can be hacked is not new. Further, I won’t start a pledge to prove we are becoming more dependent on the internet. Now the incidental worm or virus will corrupt many computers once in a while, it is a different ball game when the whole internet, everywhere, is down. With the latest hack developments, that actually seems possible.
While reading English translations of Chinese hacker sites that alluded to the issue, Mr. Lynn discovered that attackers were actively exploiting a previously unknown Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) flaw. - Ciscogate
Michael Lynn had found a buffer overflow exploit that lets an attacker take absolute control over Cisco routers. He sent the details to Cisco in April, but they still have not fully repaired the vulnerability. Since many of the world’s key routers are supplied by Cisco, this means Cisco’s foot-dragging places large parts of the world’s information infrastructure at grave risk of collapse. - BoingBoing
Here’s the whole story. Schneider has a good review as well.
Off course, Cisco’s unwise attempts to silence critics have been taped and are online (pdf!) everywhere. With the bad guys already 6 months abusing, ISS is charging Mr. Lynn with criminal charges. Seriously, who’s playing hypocrite?
