MESSAGE
| DATE | 2008-12-17 |
| FROM | From: "Michael L. Richardson"
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] Microsoft issuing emergency fix for browser flaw
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*Microsoft issuing emergency fix for browser flaw
*From Iwon news url:
http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20081217/D954FENO0.html
Dec 17, 7:53 AM (ET)
REDMOND, Wash. (AP) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) (MSFT) is taking the
unusual step of issuing an emergency fix for a security hole in its
Internet Explorer software that has exposed millions of users to having
their computers taken over by hackers.
The "zero-day" vulnerability, which came to light last week, allows
criminals to take over victims' machines simply by steering them to
infected Web sites; users don't have to download anything for their
computers to get infected, which makes the flaw in Internet Explorer's
programming code so dangerous. Internet Explorer is the world's most
widely used Web browser.
Microsoft said it plans to ship a security update, rated "critical," for
the browser on Wednesday. People with the Windows Update feature
activated on their computers will get the patch automatically.
Thousands of Web sites already have been compromised by criminals
looking to exploit the flaw. The bad guys have loaded malicious code
onto those sites that automatically infect visitors' machines if they're
using Internet Explorer and haven't employed a complicated series of
workarounds that Microsoft has suggested.
Microsoft said it has seen attacks targeting the flaw only in Internet
Explorer 7, the most widely used version, but has cautioned that all
other current editions of the browser are vulnerable.
Microsoft rarely issues security fixes for its software outside of its
regular monthly updates. The company last did it in October, and a year
and half before that.
---
On the Net:
Microsoft's security advisory:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/961051.mspx
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