topic Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software, and Version in Network Security

Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software, and Version

Kevin Melton — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 11:08:28 GMT

I am working today at a Client Site where I installed several months ago a Cisco IPS 4240 Sensor. The Sensor is currently running Version 6.0(3)E1.

I am not certain how to proceed with respect to signature updates on this box.

Under signature definition, it lists the following:

Signature Update S291.0 2007-06-18

I have noticed on the Security Software Page for IPS that the latest Signature File is S336. Should I install this on the IPS? In order to perform this, will it take down the IPS unit?

Also, there are several Management applications listed under the "Network IPS/IDS Management/Monitoring Software" heading, including: IME, IPC MC, and ICS. I am already using IDM as well as IEV respectively to Configure/ Monitor and then IEV to Alarm on certain Events. What are IME, IPC MC, and ICS and how are they different from IDM and IEV??

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

rhermes — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:31:14 GMT

Both OS patches and signature updates have the potential to distrupt service passing through the sensor when used in the in-line IPS mode. You should update the OS to 6.0(4) and then apply the latest signature update, but you could skip the OS patch and just update the signature pack if you don't require any of the fixes 6.0(4) provides.

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Farrukh Haroon — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:09:38 GMT

I would highly recommend to update the sensor OS to 6.0(4), as the upcoming Engine2 (E2) update will only support this version, as far as I can recall. This will require a reboot (So downtime for sure).

The signature update does not require a reboot, and to my knowledge if the sensor is configured with the default 'software bypass' settings, the sensing engine will just pass all traffic un-scanned while the signature is being installed (takes 1-2 minutes only).

A valid license file needs to be present tough, otherwise the signature will install, and then un-install itself, pretty annoying 🙂

Regards

Farrukh

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Kevin Melton — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:36:12 GMT

Is there any reason why I would not go ahead and upgrade the Sensor to 6.1.1 vs. the 6.0.4?

Seems 6.1.1 is the latest published release on the Download Center...

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Farrukh Haroon — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:52:10 GMT

Yes that would be much better, as then you can enjoy the benefits of the IPS Manager Express (IME).

I think there is some issues with MARS support on the 6.1.x, so I did not do that on our customer network's as of yet. I think this is planned August or something. Other features include auto-updates for signatures from cisco.com.

Regards

Farrukh

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

marcabal — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:10:47 GMT

If you are using CSM for sensor management, then you would need to stay at 6.0 until 6.1 support is added into CSM.

Choosing between 6.0 and 6.1 is generally just a personal choice.

6.0 has been in the field longer and any issues with 6.0 are more well known.

6.1 on the other hand is still fairly new, and as with any new code, it has not yet been put through the ringer the way 6.0 has been.

If stability is number one priority then stay with 6.0.

If new features are your priority then go to 6.1.

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Farrukh Haroon — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:50:32 GMT

good information there marcabal, thanks 🙂

Regards

Farrukh

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Kevin Melton — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:32:04 GMT

I am using IDM right now. Any issues with moving from 6.03 to 6.0.4 as the first post reply had recommended??

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Farrukh Haroon — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:41:13 GMT

Nope there should be no issues there. Even yesterday they announced the release date for the E2 update (June 15th). So be ready for that too :).

Regards

Farrukh

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Kevin Melton — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:59:50 GMT

Dont mean to be a pest. What is the E2? Thanks for all your help.

Kevin

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Farrukh Haroon — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:11:30 GMT

No problem at all :). Engine 2 update = E2.

Have a look at this:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/security/ips/6.1/configuration/guide/idm/idm_signature_engines.html

Regards

Farrukh

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

gdntsoc — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:08:14 GMT

In the recent Cisco's Bulletin, it stated that E2 engine update will be available by June 15, 2008.

Is there a reason why Cisco hasn't published it yet?

Thanks,

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Kevin Melton — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:38:29 GMT

Question Farrukh

I looked at the link for a few minutes and see that there are many types of engines which govern the inspection of many types of traffic.

The Master Engine seems however to govern most of them.. Is the Pending E2 engine a "Master Engine" ?...

thanks as always

Kevin

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Farrukh Haroon — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:45:57 GMT

No the E2 engine is just an add-on to the existing engine.

For example a new "Advanced HTTP engine" handling AJAX /XML /DHTML etc. could be included (this is just an example).

Regards

Farrukh

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

marcabal — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:19:49 GMT

Think of it this way.

The Engine level of the sensor is a collection of individual Signature Engines.

E1 was the collection of signatures that existed back at the end of 2006/ beginning of 2007.

Since then we have created New Signature Engines, as well as updates to the Engines from E1.

The E1 engines that have not changed, the E1 engines that did get changed, as well as the New Engines are all collected together and will now be released as E2.

So E2 is just a version designator for the next collection of Signature Engines.

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Kevin Melton — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:04:52 GMT

Thanks for the explanation. It did help. Much clearer now.

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Kevin Melton — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:10:29 GMT

Farrukh and Marcabal

Can either of you answer the following? This was in my original post in the last paragraph and i think it may have been overlooked 🙂 thx...

"Also, there are several Management applications listed under the "Network IPS/IDS Management/Monitoring Software" heading, including: IME, IPC MC, and ICS. I am already using IDM as well as IEV respectively to Configure/ Monitor and then IEV to Alarm on certain Events. What are IME, IPC MC, and ICS and how are they different from IDM and IEV??"

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

marcabal — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:48:47 GMT

IME = Intrusion Prevention Manager Express

- IME is fairly new (released only a month or 2 ago) IME is a next generation of IEV. It does the event monitoring of IEV, but is also able to do configuration similar to IDM. So it is IEV and IDM in one tool. The configuration screens of IME will only work IPS 6.1, but the event monitoring screens will work with 5.1, 6.0, and 6.1.

IPS MC = Intrusion Prevention System Management Center

IPS MC was a part of VMS (VPN and Security Management System). IPS MC was configuration of a large number of sensors.

IPS MC and VMS are both End Of Saled and were replaced with CSM

CSM = Cisco Security Manager

CSM is a multi-security device configuration management system. It is targeted at Enterprise customers with more than 5 sensors.

ICS = Intrusion Containment System

ICS was a product produced by Trend Micro Systems. Trend could create signatures for Viruses and Worms and then send an update to ICS and ICS would then create the signatures on the sensors. These signatures were known as the V signatures.

ICS has been End of Saled

So from your perspective you need not be concerned with IPS MC (VMS) or ICS.

IME should be of interest to you as an upgrade from IEV (IME like IEV is available as part of your existing sensor support contracts and is not an additional charge).

As you upgrade sensors to IPS v6.1 you might consider upgrading IEV to IME.

CSM (and also MARS) would be of interest if you are going to manage more than 5 sensors. (IME and IEV are limited to 5 sensors).

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Farrukh Haroon — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:59:27 GMT

IME is the replacement for IEV for newer IPS versions, it has more features of course. ICS was a collaboration between Cisco and Trend Micro to come up with quick signature/policy updates for upcoming threats, its EOS now, have a look at:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/vpndevc/ps5729/ps6542/prod_end-of-life_notice0900aecd806d9cdb.html

marcabal did a nice comparison between IEV and IME here:

http://forums.cisco.com/eforum/servlet/NetProf?page=netprof&forum=Security&topic=Intrusion%20Prevention%20Systems/IDS&topicID=.ee6e1fc&CommCmd=MB%3Fcmd%3Dpass_through%26location%3Doutline%40%5E1%40%40.2cc0bca0/5#selected_message

Regards

Farrukh

Re: Verifying the Correct Signature Updates, Management Software

Kevin Melton — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:42:47 GMT

I want to ask you guys a question about IEV which I am currently using...

When the views Tab is selected, i can see Alarms that have crossed the Sensor. When I right click a selected View "Type" in the Views Pane on the left, i then can proceed to properties and click next. It then will give me the option to select columns I can choose to show in the alarm detail table. One of the column names is "Actions". I have this selected for some of my Views.

the issue is this. When I right click on a specific alarm which is in one of the views and proceed to "Expand Whole Details", and then right click and select "View Alarms", it gives me all the detail. I then can reference the "Action" column. Alot of the Alarms I am getting in IEV show an action of "Present"...what does this mean??

I tried to find this in the help files for the IEV but it is not there...

Thanks