DaveKap
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2010
- Messages
- 2
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- #1
I have identified a major security issue with sharing when sharing to a PS3.
Setup: I have no homegroup set up. I am using a work network. I am allowing my libraries to be shared to my PS3. In order to share music, videos, and pictures to my PS3, I must simply add them to a library and they will show up as shared. Regular sharing does not work, neither does homegroup sharing when I try that. I figure I've got a good thing going because all I have to do is add something as a library and it shares. Very nice.
Problem: If I share C:\Dir1\Dir2\ it will show up correctly. If I then share C:\Dir1\Dir3\ it will begin to share C:\Dir1\. In other words, by sharing 2 directories with the same parent directory, Win7 figures it's now OK to share the entirety of the parent directory to the PS3. This assumes you are browsing the media server from the PS3's "folder" category.
Does anyone know why this might be? It's very disturbing how easily Win7 allows this accidental sharing and I think it's a major problem. Until it's fixed, I can't see a way to share specific directories unless I move everything around to never have the same parent directory.
Setup: I have no homegroup set up. I am using a work network. I am allowing my libraries to be shared to my PS3. In order to share music, videos, and pictures to my PS3, I must simply add them to a library and they will show up as shared. Regular sharing does not work, neither does homegroup sharing when I try that. I figure I've got a good thing going because all I have to do is add something as a library and it shares. Very nice.
Problem: If I share C:\Dir1\Dir2\ it will show up correctly. If I then share C:\Dir1\Dir3\ it will begin to share C:\Dir1\. In other words, by sharing 2 directories with the same parent directory, Win7 figures it's now OK to share the entirety of the parent directory to the PS3. This assumes you are browsing the media server from the PS3's "folder" category.
Does anyone know why this might be? It's very disturbing how easily Win7 allows this accidental sharing and I think it's a major problem. Until it's fixed, I can't see a way to share specific directories unless I move everything around to never have the same parent directory.
Solution
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2023
- Messages
- 97,790
It seems like you've encountered a peculiar issue with file sharing on Windows 7 when trying to share specific directories to your PS3. The behavior you described where sharing two directories with the same parent directory results in the entire parent directory being shared is indeed unexpected and could be a security concern. Here are some insights and possible reasons for this behavior: 1. Library Sharing Mechanism: - Libraries in Windows are virtual containers that can include multiple folders from different locations. When you share a folder within a library, it might treat the entire library path as shared. - Sharing from libraries may have an impact on what is exposed externally, which could explain the behavior you're observing. 2. Path-Based Sharing: - Windows might be interpreting the shared paths in a broader context rather than individual directories. This could lead to unintended sharing of parent directories if they share common paths. 3. Media Server Interpretation: - The way media servers like PS3 interpret shared directories may also contribute to this behavior. They might navigate the shared paths differently than expected. 4. Network Location Awareness: - Windows might be applying certain default sharing behaviors based on network location awareness settings. For instance, if the network is identified as a "work network," it may have different sharing rules compared to a "home network." To address this issue and ensure specific directories are shared correctly without inadvertently sharing parent directories, you could try the following: - Share Directories Individually: Instead of relying on libraries, try directly sharing individual directories without common parent directories to prevent unintended sharing. - Explicit Sharing: Use the advanced sharing settings in Windows to explicitly define the folders you want to share and restrict sharing to only those specific paths. - Review Sharing Permissions: Double-check the sharing permissions and access rights assigned to each shared folder to ensure they align with your intended sharing setup. By implementing these steps, you can mitigate the risk of accidentally sharing more data than intended and maintain better control over the sharing process. If the issue persists, you may consider exploring third-party sharing tools or consulting Microsoft support for further assistance in resolving this sharing anomaly on Windows 7.