Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Blogs
    • Security Watch

    Curse of the HP Software Updater

    By
    Ryan Naraine
    -
    April 28, 2008
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Curse of the HP Software UpdaterHewlett-Packard’s ongoing struggle to keep its software updater free of serious ActiveX control vulnerabilities is showing no signs of letting up.

      According to a “highly critical” alert issued by Secunia, the HP Software Update package pre-installed on notebooks contains multiple security holes that can be exploited to disclose certain information or compromise a vulnerable system.

      The bug affects any PC with HP Software Update v4.000.009.002 or earlier running on Microsoft Windows.

      HP has issued a patch to correct the underlying vulnerability.

      According to an advisory from Tan Chew Keong, the hacker who discovered and reported the issue to HP, the vulnerabilities were found in the HP HPeDiag ActiveX Controls that are loaded as part of HP Software Update version 3.0.2.991 when the user installs the Windows software suite for HP color LaserJet 2820/2840.

      [ SEE: ‘Highly Critical’ Bug Haunts HP Virtual Rooms ]

      The most serious issue is a stack-based buffer overflow that occurs within the GetXmlFromIni method of the HPeSupportDiags.HPIniFileUtil.1 ActiveX control when creating XML output from an INI input file.

      From the alert:

      “This control is marked “safe-for-scripting” and hence, can be invoked from Internet Explorer. In this method, each Section name that is read from the INI input file is used in an unsafe sprintf() call to construct the XML output. This causes a stack-based buffer when the Section name is overly long. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must be able to create a webpage that uses the GetXmlFromIni method to process an INI file that is accessible by the victim. By placing the malicious INI on a publicly accessible Windows shared folder, it is possible for the attacker to trigger this buffer overflow without having to first place the INI file on the victim’s system.“

      * Image source: QT1p (Creative Commons 2.0)

      Ryan Naraine

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×