How to Shut Down or Crash
a Novell File Server
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Thinking about Paul Simon's classic song, "There must be Fifty Ways
to Leave Your Lover", I figured that, regardless of the incredible security
that exists on this most famous of secure programming examples, I concluded
"There must be 50 ways to down a Novell File Server". Some of these might
actually work, but the whole list should be taken in fun.
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- Write a program that completely fills the bindary with objects.
- Use the "8 back" rule to construct directories on top of each other
so that you will have to traverse the entire tree in order to
delete just one file.
- Use the method described in the standard Novell "HELP" system to
craash the server (Hint: Look up the word "crash".)
- Force infinite non-existing connections.
- Alter date on workstation back to 1980 and start creating a few files
(This actually works on Novell 3.11 and earlier!)
- Cause BTrieve lock/loop for file server infinite loop.
- Initiate Borland Backdoor, down file server from FCONSOLE.
- Manually trigger COPY PROTECTION from node inside network.
- Alter .BAT files to remap users to bad drive (network will have to be
shut down in order to initiate repairs.
- Place LOGIN.BAT file in F:\LOGIN to make nifty effects, hack accounts.
- Crash router or MMAC units
- Reconfigure PC CMOS setup to be incompatible with the Network.
- Cause excessive collisions between two IPX workstations
(untracable, no logins needed)
- Use Ethernet ICMP 'Denial' bug on all Internet domains, breaking
all standard socket connections.
- Disable File Server sockets using ICMP bug.
- CPU Bound file server with constant encryption requests.
- Selective sabotage -- remove 1 pin from a multi-pin cable.
- Ask phone company to discontinue WAN support from any campus phone.
- Interject failed IPX return packets/SPX packets -- stall network.
- Tie up network with variable-length packet -- presumably one so large
it won't finish anytime before a collision takes place.
- Send excessively huge print job to take up drive space on the network.
- Interject garbage directly into printer object, no account needed.
- TSR Hook -- Grab keyboard interrupt and record keystrokes, grab
passwords, and sabotage.
- Inject Virus into RWCEF directories and files, Borland Backdoor.
- Press "reset" on file server (or power switch) and change CMOS
password... And run like HELL! (not a good idea)
- Force power outages -- lightning rod to physical plant or sabotage
by physical plant (presumably before or during tape backups, when
bindary is set locked.)
- Bribe or eliminate network manager.
- Covertly break into computer room, steal computer and leave.
- Gain supervisor, and create two groups, recursively members of each
other, fill RAM on server.
- Activate file lock on EVERYONE group.
- Call SPA to report on piracy ring on computer network (file server
will be confiscated.)
- Call Secret Service, report fraud ring on computer system (file server
will be confiscated.)
- Call FBI, report kiddie porn ring on computer system (file server will
once again be confiscated.)
- Point out pornography can be obtained off of network to local religious
quacks and newspaper, and that tax-dollars are spent to distribute this
"filth". It will be shut down due to public outcry.
- Encourage users to abuse computer resources. (Taken away.)
- Send obnoxious messages and print-outs to easily upset administrators
and directors.
- Hack an account, E-Mail pirated software to DOCKMASTER.NCSC.MIL, the
National Security Agency's showcase for computer security.
- Hack an account, crash a military computer system with IMCP bug
(military probe activity)
- Make above information readily available to new computer science majors.
- Fake-mail the ACLU slanderous, anti-ACLU letters, forward to public
listservs, promote the possibility of liable lawsuit from a squadron
of lawyers.
- Fake-mail someone important a nasty note from someone else on the
network not quite as important.
- Stick toothpick to jam file server's cooling fan.
- Alter thermostat to up room temperture to maximum.
- Stick a floppy disk in file server -- if its rebooted, it can alter/
format the hard-drive(s).
- Initiate 250 SPX connections from computer workstation.
- Create an 80 meg BTrieve database, make some file server searches,
resulting I/O / CPU bound problems will cause a workload failure.
- Force constant bindary wildcard searches, burdoning the machine and
causing workload failure.
- Open over 255 sockets requesting a disk task from the file server
(limit exception error.)
- Latch car battery cables to Ethernet cable, crashing all machines
connected to the battery.
- Cause incoming network data overload from WAN machines.
- Set off sprinkler system.
- Switch input voltage selector on server to 220 volts.
- Don't give the right name for the printer server when at the console.
- Attach strong magnet to back panel of the file server.
- Fake-Mail "Mafia" threats from the system administrator of the network
to administrators at other campuses for no reason except "we will break
your network if you don't send us money."
- Sever some cables, pull a few plugs.
- Drill hole in roof over file server, wait for rainstorm.
- Spill soda pop on it.
- Shut off main circuit breaker.
- Piss on server (might have problem, however. Sort of like pissing on
an electric fence.)
- Eject CD-ROM while file server is running.
- Remove the terminator from the last PC in the network.
- Place file server on David Koresh's Compound Apokolypse.
- Report the existence of the file server to the IRS.
- Lift up file server exactly one and a half feet above the
floor or table, and drop it on it's rear/left corner.
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Disclaimer: All these ideas might cause seriuous trouble, so never try them.
The ideas to this were collected during a class in Netware Programming from a
friend of mine who, I guess, wouldn't like it if I would tell you his name.
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