Securing Citrix XenApp Server in the Enterprise

Secure Citrix Presentation Server, which runs on 99% of Fortune 500 Networks!

Tariq Azad (Author)

9781597492812, Elsevier Science

Paperback / softback, published 8 August 2008

528 pages
23.5 x 19 x 3.3 cm, 1.28 kg

Citrix Presentation Server allows remote users to work off a network server as if they weren't remote. That means: Incredibly fast access to data and applications for users, no third party VPN connection, and no latency issues. All of these features make Citrix Presentation Server a great tool for increasing access and productivity for remote users. Unfortunately, these same features make Citrix just as dangerous to the network it's running on. By definition, Citrix is granting remote users direct access to corporate servers?..achieving this type of access is also the holy grail for malicious hackers. To compromise a server running Citrix Presentation Server, a hacker need not penetrate a heavily defended corporate or government server. They can simply compromise the far more vulnerable laptop, remote office, or home office of any computer connected to that server by Citrix Presentation Server.
All of this makes Citrix Presentation Server a high-value target for malicious hackers. And although it is a high-value target, Citrix Presentation Servers and remote workstations are often relatively easily hacked, because they are often times deployed by overworked system administrators who haven't even configured the most basic security features offered by Citrix. "The problem, in other words, isn't a lack of options for securing Citrix instances; the problem is that administrators aren't using them." (eWeek, October 2007). In support of this assertion Security researcher Petko D. Petkov, aka "pdp", said in an Oct. 4 posting that his recent testing of Citrix gateways led him to "tons" of "wide-open" Citrix instances, including 10 on government domains and four on military domains.

1: Advanced Encryption Standard Support
2: Citrix Password Manager
3: Security Considerations in a Citrix Presentation Server Deployment
4 FIPS 140 and Citrix Presentation
5 Kerberos Authentication
6 Citrix Presentation Server Clients
7 Virtual Channels
8: Additional Citrix Presentation Server Security Features 9: Deploying SSL Relay
10: Deploying Secure Gateway
11: Using Secure Gateway (Double-Hop)
12: Using SSL Relay and the Web Interface.

Subject Areas: Computer security [UR], Business applications [UF]