eBay will not become a buzzing marketplace for malicious code, as it has for computers, antiques, iPods and geegaws of all sorts. After an eBay member who used the name “fearwall” put a previously unknown hole in Microsofts Excel program up for sale, the auction attracted the notice of security researchers and received a bid of more than $50 before the auction site pulled it. eBay acted after it was contacted by the Microsoft Security Response Center, according to published reports.
In an e-mail statement, a Microsoft spokesperson said she didnt know of any attacks stemming from the Excel hole. The company was working with eBay to investigate the auction to determine the proper course of action.