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List:       isn
Subject:    [ISN] GAO unearths computer security weaknesses at NASA
From:       cult hero <jericho () dimensional ! com>
Date:       1999-05-21 7:00:53
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Forwarded From: William Knowles <erehwon@kizmiaz.dis.org>

GAO unearths computer security weaknesses at NASA

http://www.fcw.com/pubs/fcw/1999/0517/web-nasa-5-20-99.html

(Federal Computer Week) [5.20.99] Many of NASA's mission-critical
information systems are vulnerable to attack, and almost all the systems
do not meet the agency's own requirements for risk assessment, according
to a General Accounting Office report released today.

In tests conducted by GAO at one of NASA's field centers, experts were
able to penetrate several mission-critical systems, including one
responsible for calculating the positioning data for spacecraft.

"Having obtained access to these systems, we could have disrupted NASA's
ongoing command and control operations and stolen, modified or destroyed
system software and data," the report states.

GAO attributed much of the success of the attacks to NASA's lack of
consistent information security management and policies as suggested by
GAO's 1998 Executive Guide.  And although NASA performed a special review
of its information security program last May that found many of the same
problems identified by GAO, few of the recommended fixes have been
started, according to the report.

GAO recommended that NASA put in place an agencywide security program
addressing five areas: assessing risks and evaluating needs;  implementing
policies and controls;  monitoring compliance with policy and
effectiveness of controls; providing computer security training;  and
coordinating responses to security incidents. 

-o-
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