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
Menu
Search
  • 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 Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Another Unofficial WMF Patch Released

    By
    Ryan Naraine
    -
    January 4, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Another unofficial patch for the Windows Metafile flaw is making the rounds.

      Security vendor ESET, makers of the NOD32 anti-virus program, on Wednesday shipped an interim patch for the bug, almost a week before Microsoft Corp. is scheduled to release a properly tested security update.

      Rick Moy, vice president of marketing and sales for ESET said the widespread use of Microsofts operating system means that a “very large user base [is] susceptible” to the zero-day vulnerability.

      “In order to prevent any propagation of the vulnerability, ESET recommends that organizations take immediate preventative action,” Moy said.

      The patch is available for free from the ESET home page.

      /zimages/6/28571.gifFor advice on how to secure your network and applications, as well as the latest security news, visit Ziff Davis Internets Security IT Hub.

      Ilfak Guilfanov, author of IDA Pro and a software engineer widely hailed for his reverse engineering work, has also released a hotfix that is enjoying wide distribution on several security Web sites.

      However, officials at the MSRC (Microsoft Security Response Center) has again made it clear that the official Windows update coming on Jan. 10 might not interoperate with untested third-party patches.

      “We are not testing our patch against any other patch,” said Kevin Kean, operations manager of the MSRC. “Our primary concern is providing a quality patch for millions of customers. We havent spent any time analyzing any other patch to check for interoperability.”

      /zimages/6/28571.gifClick here to read more about smart WMF remediation.

      In an interview with eWEEK, Kean said the update planned for Januarys Patch Tuesday was in effect an “emergency patch” that was turned around in a two-week time frame.

      “We view this as an emergency situation. Were pulling out all our resources and literally working 24 hours a day to get this ready. Were repurposing testing resources and grabbing anyone and everyone who can help us bring this to completion as soon as we can,” Kean said.

      MSRC director Debby Fry Wilson said the company has redeployed internal resources in a frenzied attempt to get the patch ready. In the hubbub, a pre-release version of the patch was accidentally posted online and had to be hurriedly removed.

      “That particular piece of code was not tested and is not the version we will release [next] Tuesday,” Wilson said.

      She also said Microsoft was working closely with law enforcement authorities to disable Web sites distributing the active WMF exploits, and added that the situation has “stabilized” significantly since the first wave of attacks started on Dec. 27.

      Wilson also left the door open for an emergency, out-of-cycle patch release if the threat escalates. “If our intelligence changes and indicates that infections are growing and impact is more severe, well go out-of-cycle. Were looking at the data on a minute-to-minute basis to make the right call on that.”

      /zimages/6/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest security news, reviews and analysis. And for insights on security coverage around the Web, take a look at eWEEK.com Security Center Editor Larry Seltzers Weblog.

      Ryan Naraine

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 1, 2020 0
      Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

      eWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
      Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      How NVIDIA A100 Station Brings Data Center...

      Zeus Kerravala - November 18, 2020 0
      There’s little debate that graphics processor unit manufacturer NVIDIA is the de facto standard when it comes to providing silicon to power machine learning...
      Read more
      Apple

      Why iPhone 12 Pro Makes Sense for...

      Wayne Rash - November 26, 2020 0
      If you’ve been watching the Apple commercials for the past three weeks, you already know what the company thinks will happen if you buy...
      Read more

      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.

      ×