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 Vulnerability Faces New Round of Attacks

    By
    Brian Prince
    -
    November 26, 2008
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      If you haven’t patched the Windows Server Service vulnerability fixed by Microsoft last month, it’s time to make it a priority.

      Though Microsoft issued a rare out-of-band patch for the issue in October, a number of exploits taking advantage of the vulnerability continue to be a problem. This past weekend, Microsoft began receiving customer reports regarding increased malware attacks targeting the flaw. The attacks continued to gain momentum as the days went on, prompting Microsoft to post an advisory on its Security Response Center blog.

      The vulnerability attackers are targeting is due to the Windows Server Service improperly handling remote protocol (RPC) requests. With a specially-crafted RPC, an attacker can take advantage of the security gap to take over a system.

      The latest malware is detected by Microsoft as Win32/Conficker.A, W32/Conficker by McAfee and W32.Downadup by Symantec.

      “Once loaded in the service space, the worm attempts to download files from the Internet-specifically, further malware from trafficconverter.biz and data files from maxmind.com,” wrote Alex Hinchliffe, a researcher with McAfee’s Avert Labs, in a recent post on the lab’s blog. “The worm continues by setting up an HTTP server that listens on a random port on the victim’s system while hosting a copy of the worm. It then scans for new vulnerable victims to exploit, at which point the new victim will download the worm from the previous victim and so on.”

      On the Microsoft’s Malware Protection Center (MPC) blog, it was noted that the worm mostly spreads within corporations, but has also infected several hundred home users. Most of the reports of infections are coming from users in the United States, but there are also reports from Germany, Spain, France and other countries.

      Strangely, the worm patches the vulnerable API in memory – a move that may be an attempt by attackers to prevent other malware from taking over the computer as well.

      The issue can be exploited without authentication on Windows 2000, XP and Server 2003 platforms. Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 are also affected, but the vulnerable code path is only accessible to authenticated users.

      As a workaround, enterprises can disable the computer browser service. Directions on how to do this are included in the Microsoft advisory. Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 users can also filter the affected RPC identifier.

      Brian Prince

      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
      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
      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
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      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.

      ×