Close
  • Latest News
  • Cybersecurity
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Mobile
  • Networking
  • Storage
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • 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
  • Cybersecurity
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Mobile
  • Networking
  • Storage
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Cybersecurity
    • PC Hardware

    HP Laptops Spring (Another) Security Leak

    By
    Ryan Naraine
    -
    December 19, 2007
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      For the third time this year, a remotely exploitable zero-day vulnerability has been found in software pre-installed on brand new Hewlett Packard notebook computers.

      The flaw, which puts millions of Windows users at risk of serious attacks, affects every HP laptop that ships with HP Software Update, the computer’s built-in patch management utility.

      A Polish security researcher who uses the online moniker “porkythepig” plans to issue an alert—with accompanying exploit code—within the next 24 hours to demonstrate the impact of the vulnerability on Windows-powered HP machines.

      In an e-mail interview with eWEEK, the researcher warned that hackers could use rigged Web sites to launch remote attacks on every HP laptop running Internet Explorer.

      The actual vulnerability lies in an ActiveX Control used by the HP Software Update tool. Normally, security professionals recommend that buggy ActiveX controls be disabled if there’s an attack scenario, but in this case, disabling the vulnerable control would completely disable the HP software update system, he added.

      The issue affects machines with the HP Software Update client v3.0.8.4 (Internet Explorer 6.0 and Internet Explorer 7.0). Exploits have been tested against Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista systems.

      The researcher provided eWEEK with an advance copy of the exploit code to highlight the severity of main attack vectors.

      In one scenario, a social engineering lure can be used by the attacker to acquire the exact name and location of sensitive system files. Once this is known, the attacker can cause the files to be “unrecoverably destroyed.”

      Another example in the advisory outlines how a booby-trapped Web page can launch a drive-by exploit that corrupts vital operating system files, “leaving the system unusable.”

      The second attack vector doesn’t require any additional social engineering, because the system files are always placed in the predictable locations, he warned.

      Click here to read about a zero-day access flaw in Microsoft Office Access.

      This is the third time this year HP has been forced to scramble to issue patches after the public release of zero-day vulnerability information.

      In June 2007, the company acknowledged and fixed a buffer overflow condition in the Help and Support Center utility and warned that unpatched machines were sitting ducks for drive-by malware downloads.

      One week ago, a third security hole—in the HP Info Center—was also patched to provide cover for code execution scenarios affecting more than 80 HP laptop models.

      Hewlett-Packard spokesperson Tom Augenthaler says the company takes the security of its products very seriously and assigns significant resources to address known vulnerabilities.

      The company could not be reached for comment on the newest discovery. “Porkythepig” said he plans to give the company only 24 hours notice before going public with his findings.

      Check out eWEEK.com’s Security Center for the latest security news, reviews and analysis. And for insights on security coverage around the Web, take a look at eWEEK’s Security Watch blog.

      Avatar
      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


      Contact Us | About | Sitemap

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      Terms of Service | Privacy Notice | Advertise | California - Do Not Sell My Information

      © 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.

      ×