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
    • IT Management
    • Networking

    Microsoft Releases Patch Tuesday Fixes for Windows Server and PowerPoint

    By
    Fahmida Y. Rashid
    -
    May 10, 2011
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Microsoft addressed two security bulletins in May’s Patch Tuesday release. Security experts said administrators should apply the fixes immediately-because, despite their small size, they address significant threats.

      Microsoft fixed a critical vulnerability affecting Windows Server and an important bug in Microsoft Office PowerPoint, according to the Patch Tuesday advisory released May 10. Microsoft also assigned separate “exploitability” scores for newer versions of the software under the “improved” exploitability index ratings.

      The team fixed a critical vulnerability (MS11-035) in the WINS component in Windows Server 2003 and 2008. WINS is a name-resolution service that resolves names in the NetBIOS namespace and does not require authentication to use. While usually not available by default in Windows Server, it is commonly used in the enterprise for internal network servers. Administrators who have enabled WINS in Windows Server should apply the patch immediately as attackers could remotely cause a denial of service, according to Wolfgang Kandek, the CTO of Qualys.

      “What might make the WINS vulnerability appealing to attackers is that it is a server-side issue,” Joshua Talbot, security intelligence manager, Symantec Security Response, told eWEEK.

      Unlike other threats, attackers don’t have to trick a user into doing anything since it’s just a matter of finding a vulnerable server and feeding the machine “a malicious string of data,” according to Talbot. It is also a more serious issue on Windows Server 2003 than on 2008 because Windows Server 2008 has built-in protections such as DEP (Data Execution Prevention) and ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization). However, attackers can still create exploit code to get past those security features, Talbot said.

      The other “important” bulletin (MS11-036) addressed a security flaw in all versions of Microsoft Office Power Point except Office 2010. The bug would allow attackers to take full control of the target machine as soon as the user opens a malicious PPT file.

      Both WINS and PowerPoint vulnerabilities are fairly significant, according to Tyler Reguly, technical manager of security research and development at nCircle. File-format vulnerabilities are “popular exploits” but WINS is remote code execution, so it was “difficult” to decide which was the “biggest risk today.”

      Microsoft listed both vulnerabilities using the new exploitability ratings. The PowerPoint bulletin was rated a “1” for a consistent exploit code likely for older software releases, but 0 for latest software because Office 2010 is not affected. The WINS patch was rated a “2” on both the latest and older versions because it affected all versions.

      The updated rating system is intended to make it easier for IT administrators to determine their risk level, according to Microsoft.

      “With massive updates such as we had in April, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Microsoft’s new index simplifies the process, which will help IT administrators to prioritize which patches they tackle first,” said Dave Marcus, director of security research and communications at McAfee Labs.

      The small release means administrators should “brace themselves for a larger update” in June, according to Kandek.

      To complicate things for IT administrators, a fake Patch Tuesday update is making the rounds, according to security researchers at Websense Security Labs ThreatSeeker network. The malware is spread via a link inside an email message supposedly from “Microsoft Canada Co.” which informs users that Microsoft has issued a “Security Update for Microsoft Windows OS,” wrote Amon Sanniez, associate security researcher at Websense. Clicking on the link downloads the fake patch to the computer and infects the system with a Zeus Trojan variant, according to Sanniez.

      It “ties in almost perfectly” with the real Patch Tuesday updates from Microsoft, Sanniez said.

      The email looks quite legitimate and shows “some effort” went into the creation, as the message is presented in both English and French, and the display names within the headers actually say the mail originated from Microsoft Canada.

      The malicious executable is currently not being detected by most major antivirus products tracked on VirusTotal, so IT managers should be careful that none of their staff members or users click on the link to get the security update. Websense said it is a low-volume threat, possibly aimed at a handful of companies.

      Fahmida Y. Rashid

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      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

      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
      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.

      ×