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 Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Exploit Code Published for Unpatched IE Vulnerability

    By
    Matt Hines
    -
    September 28, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Malware researcher H.D. Moore, co-founder of the Metasploit Framework, has published software exploit code meant to prove that a vulnerability in Microsofts Internet Explorer browser that he first publicized in July remains unpatched and capable of being attacked.

      According to Moore, and other security researchers including Copenhagen, Denmark-based Secunia, the IE-borne vulnerability has been confirmed as legitimate on Windows computers running Internet Explorer 6.0 and Microsofts Windows XP Service Pack 2.

      Secunia reported that the vulnerability is related to an integer overflow error in the browsers “WebViewFolderIcon” ActiveX control.

      The glitch can be exploited to corrupt a computers memory using a malicious Web site, and could allow execution of arbitrary code if taken advantage of, the security company said.

      A Microsoft spokesman said that the company is investigating the vulnerability reported in supported versions of Windows, and reported that customers running Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 in their default configurations with the Enhanced Security Configuration turned on are not affected by it.

      While also aware of the proof-of-concept exploit code published by Moore, the company said it is not aware of any attacks attempting to use the reported vulnerability. Microsoft did not report any plans to issue a security update to address the problem ahead of its scheduled Oct. 10 update.

      Moore, who has built a strong reputation in security circles for his work regarding penetration testing and exploit creation, has recently turned his attention to Web browsers, collaborating on several fuzz-testing tools aimed at finding design flaws.

      Fuzz testers, or fuzzers, are used by security researchers to find vulnerabilities by sending random input to an application.

      In July, Moore launched a project dubbed MoBB (Month of Browser Bugs) through which he provided daily releases of proof-of-concept code for flaws in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera and Konqueror. Many of the issues highlighted during the month, including the unaddressed WebViewFolderIcon vulnerability, could be detected by software makers if they employed more fuzzing technologies for testing their products, the researcher contends.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifClick here to read more about an unpatched IE flaw.

      Despite the apparent lack of effort to close the IE flaw publicized by Moore, Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft has been making significant headway in improving its ability to rapidly provide software patches that secure vulnerabilities discovered in its products.

      According to Symantecs latest Internet Security Report, released in mid-September, Microsoft had the shortest average patch development time of any major software vendor over the first six months of 2006, at a rate of 13 days per vulnerability.

      The companys ability to get security patches out in less than two weeks time on average represented a significant improvement over its previous average of taking 30 days, or roughly one month, to solve flaws after they had been identified, reported by Symantec at the end of 2005.

      Linux specialists Red Hat Software tied Microsoft at 13 days per vulnerability, according to the security applications maker, down from 28 days over the last six months of 2005.

      By comparison, Apple ships security patches for known flaws on an average of 37 days after the problem is reported, and Hewlett Packard averages 53 days, Symantec researchers said.

      eWeek Senior Writer Ryan Narraine contributed to this story.

      /zimages/3/28571.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.

      Matt Hines

      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
      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
      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
      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.
      © 2022 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.

      ×