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Daily Brief

The PSEPC Daily Brief is a compilation of summaries of publicly available and PSEPC information concerning critical infrastructure protection and emergency management.

DOB06-007 - 11 January 2006

News

CCIRC releases Advisory AV06-002: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-002, MS06-003
On January 10, the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) released Advisory AV06-002 to draw attention to the following critical vulnerabilities in some Microsoft products:

• MS06-002: Vulnerability in Embedded Web Fonts Could Allow Remote Code Execution
• MS06-003: Vulnerability in TNEF Decoding in Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange Could Allow Remote Code Execution

PSEPC recommends that administrators test and install the updates provided in the Advisory at their earliest opportunity.
(Source: Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, 10 January 2006)
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CCIRC provides recent alerts and advisories on their website under Recent analytical releases.

Mudslides disrupt Amtrak passenger train service between Vancouver and Portland, Oregon
On January 10, heavy rains triggered mudslides that disrupted Amtrak passenger train service between Vancouver and Portland, Oregon. A spokesperson for Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the company that owns the railroad tracks, stated that mud, rocks and trees spilled onto tracks in three places. One occurred a few miles south of Tacoma, and two occurred north of Edmonds, about 25 kilometres north of Seattle. For safety, closures affecting passenger rail service will remain in effect for at least 48 hours.

The western area of Washington State has recently been subjected to heavy rainfall. More rain has been forecast, prompting flood warnings for several western Washington rivers.
(Source: GLOBEANDMAIL.COM, 10 January 2006)
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PSEPC Geomatics provides a map (929 kb)of the affected area.

A main trigger for mudslides is heavy or excessive rainfall. Vancouver has had 23 consecutive days of rain and is headed toward breaking a 53-year-old record, which has renewed concerns over mudslides. The current record for consecutive days of rain is 28 days, set in January 1953. As of January 10, approximately 200 millimetres of rain had fallen since December 19, and rain is forecast daily until at least January 14.
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In brief

Avian Influenza: Update
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tests conducted in Turkish laboratories have confirmed the country’s fifteenth case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The patient is a 37-year-old woman from the central province of Sivas. In response to the outbreak of cases in Turkey, the Turkish government has launched an intensive public awareness campaign.

A ccording to WHO, the Ministry of Health in China has confirmed the country’s eighth case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The patient is a six-year-old boy from Hunan Province and is currently in hospital in stable condition. Of the eight confirmed cases in China, five have died.

Since 2003, WHO has confirmed that a total of 78 people have died due to infection from the H5N1 avian influenza strain.
(Source: World Health Organization, 10 January 2006)
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Cyber risk assessment

Over the course of the past 24 hours, the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) has released an advisory (AV06-002) on two Microsoft vulnerabilities. No significant incidents with the potential to affect critical infrastructure have been reported. Accordingly, based on the information available to CCIRC, the cyber risk facing Canadian critical infrastructure is assessed as low. Personnel responsible for information, systems and network security should continue to apply appropriate security precautions and monitor their systems.

Recent cyber alerts and advisories issued by CCIRC can be viewed under “Recent analytical releases” at www.psepc.gc.ca/ccirc.

See also...

• The Weather Office
• FAC - Travel Updates

Note to readers

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) collects information related to cyber and physical threats to, and incidents involving, Canadian critical infrastructure. This allows us to monitor and analyze threats and to issue alerts, advisories and other information products.

Any suspected criminal activity should be reported to local law enforcement organizations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) National Operations Centre (NOC) provides a 24/7 service to receive such reports or to redirect callers to local law enforcement organizations. The NOC can be reached at (613) 993-4460. National security concerns should be reported to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) at (613) 993-9620.

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