Michael Howard's Web Log

Integrating the SDL process into Visual Studio

2009-05-19T16:53:27Z

I’ve been a firm believer of integrating as much security tooling as possible into the development process so developers can get on with developing code and designing solutions rather than having to constantly think about dotting the security “i”s and crossing the security “t”s.

The less security “friction” the better, because the more you can automate the more progress you can make.

Jeremy Dallman has just announced that we have released the Microsoft SDL Process Template for Visual Studio Team System, and yes, it’s free.

I think this is a huge step forward because now software development teams outside of Microsoft can more easily track their adherence to the SDL.

Technorati Tags: SDL,Tools

A Conversation About Threat Modeling

2009-05-01T14:29:00Z

This was fun to write; in fact, other than minor edits I wrote it in a single two hour sitting with my laptop by the pool :)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd727503.aspx

Ken Johnson (Skywing) joins Microsoft

2009-03-24T22:27:00Z

Following close on the heels of security experts Matt Miller, Adam Shostack and Crispin Cowan joining Microsoft, I am pleased to announce that Ken Johnson, AKA Skywing, has joined our group.

Ken brings an enormous amount of reverse engineering and defense-subversion skill to Microsoft. Ken will be working on anything and everything related vulnerabilities, exploits, defenses, bypassing defenses and more. Ken also maintains a blog on debugging, reverse engineering, and security-related topics (along with various personal projects) at: http://www.nynaeve.net.

Welcome, Ken!

Free Download: Writing Secure Code for Windows Vista

2008-12-31T04:07:00Z

"For 25 years, Microsoft Press books have focused on helping you take your skills and knowledge to the next level. Celebrate our 25th Anniversary with a "Free E-Book of the Month" offer! Simply sign up for the Microsoft Press Book Connection Newsletter for notification of offers, register, and download the selection of the month."

http://csna01.libredigital.com/?urrs4gt63d

Secure software development practices 'not rocket science'

2008-12-08T22:09:00Z

http://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid92_gci1340940,00.html#

A Proactive Approach to Building a Successful Security Development Lifecycle Program

2008-11-20T01:49:00Z

At this point most of you have heard about the Microsoft SDL and some of activities and deliverables associated with it.

However, I still receive a number of questions, specifically, how and where development organizations can start deploying SDL.

Good news!

One of the new Microsoft SDL Pro Network members, Security Innovation, has invited me to address this and other SDL questions at an upcoming webcast titled “A Proactive Approach to Building a Successful Security Development Lifecycle Program.”

SI also invited Jon Oltsik, an analyst from the Enterprise Strategy Group, to present his point of view on the value of the SDL to development organizations. It should be an interesting event, and will hopefully answer many of the questions I have received from the field. If we don’t address your questions during our presentations, there is going to be Q&A at the end …

If you are interested in attending this live web event, it is going to take place TOMORROW Thursday, November 20th, at 1:00pm ET, and you can register for it here.

Hope you can make it!

Improvements in Office Security

2008-11-18T04:59:00Z

David LeBlanc has an excellent write-up of the results (so far) of all the security work the Office guys have been doing over the last few years.

Net: about a 50% reduction in vulns!

Volume 5 of the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report is out

2008-11-03T14:16:00Z

Volume 5 of the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report is now out, highlights include:

Security vulnerability disclosures - Microsoft and third-party software
Vulnerability Exploits – Microsoft software
Browser-based exploits - Microsoft and third-party software
Security and privacy breaches
Malicious and potentially unwanted software trends

Volume 5 of the SIR also includes a detailed examination of the threat ecosystem which explains how threats propagate across the internet, how users become infected and the resultant impact on privacy and identity theft.

The one item that stood out for me was the move from successfully attacking Microsoft applications and browser objects to attacking and compromising 3rd-party applictions and browser objects.

Security-Related MSDN Magazine Articles

2008-10-28T18:38:00Z

Bryan Sullivan and I wrote a couple of articles for this month's MSDN Magazine. If you're not aware, November focuses on Security.

The two articles are:

Test Your Security IQ

Threat Models Improve Your Security Process

And there's the Agile SDL paper than I already mentioned.

Agile SDL

2008-10-28T18:35:00Z

Over the last year or so, a bunch of us in the SDL team have been working with agile groups across Microsoft to help streamline the SDL for agile methods. Bryan Sullivan wrote a paper for MSDN Magazine explaining where our current throughts lie. Clearly this is just the start, we have some more work to do, but we thought it would be worthwhile putting our ideas out there to get feedback and comments.

SAFECode releases "Fundamental Practices for Secure Software Development" document

2008-10-08T17:04:00Z

Today, SAFECode released an important document entitled, “Fundamental Practices for Secure Software Development” aimed at helping software producers create more secure software.

The document is unique in that it describes what SAFECode members are doing in practice to raise the security bar; it’s not a theoretical or academic document.

I believe the fact that it describes what’s used in practice is what makes the document important because it means the ideas in the document can be implemented in the real world regardless of the type of software under development.

So take a look, and let me know what you think.

Updated: first review from InfoWorld.

Practical Defense in Depth

2008-09-26T19:50:00Z

Crosstalk has published an article for mine regarding how we use Defense in Depth within the SDL, and in Microsoft in general.

Twitter Feed

2008-09-17T18:16:00Z

I've been doing this Twitter thing for a while now - I really like it, folks can get a feel for what you're up to each day.

If you're interested, you can see what I'm up to by clicking 'Follow' at http://twitter.com/michael_howard

SDL Evolution

2008-09-17T04:02:00Z

UPDATED: Added IOActive post

As many of you have seen today, there's been plenty of press about us opening up the SDL for use by other software developers and releasing our threat modeling tool. For those of you who have no clue what the heck I'm talking about, here are a handful of articles about what happened today:

Microsoft becomes high priest of secure software development (C|Net)
Microsoft looks to spread secure software expertise (Computerworld)
Microsoft to Share Its Secure Development Blueprint, Threat Modeling Tool (Dark Reading)

I'm not sure about the "High Priest" moniker, but what the heck :)

Cigital also blogged about the event, most notably the SDL Pro Network, and IOActive posted some comments too.

I'm really excited to see the SDL move forward and most importantly, outward. We have learned a great deal about what it takes to make steps toward securing software. We don't expect perfection, but if more people embrace some of the principles we define in the SDL, and we have experienced and knowledgable partners scale the effort, I think the IT world will be a substantially more secure place.

-Michael

James Whittaker has a blog

2008-09-16T01:46:00Z

SDL alumnus James Whittaker has a blog. I meant to write a note on this weeks ago, but I kinda got busy! Anyway, if you're a tester, or have a passing interest in test, James is one of the best and you should learn from him. He's the author or coauthor of How to Break Software, How to Break Software Security and How to Break Web Software.

http://blogs.msdn.com/james_whittaker/default.aspx