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
    • PC Hardware

    Windows XP Zero-Day Targeted by Hackers in Drive-by Attack

    By
    Brian Prince
    -
    June 15, 2010
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Attackers have begun exploiting a zero-day vulnerability to target Windows XP machines. The vulnerability has given rise to renewed debate about responsible disclosure.

      According to Sophos Senior Technology Consultant Graham Cluley, a legitimate Website pushing open-source software was seen serving the exploit to PC users. Cluley declined to name the site, but Microsoft confirmed that it was aware the bug was being exploited and said the exploits had been “taken down.”

      An analysis of the exploits found that Windows Server 2003 systems are not being targeted, according to an updated advisory. However, the vulnerability lies within the Windows Help and Support Center function delivered in both XP and Windows Server 2003, meaning that Windows Server 2003 systems could eventually be targeted.

      A successful exploit could allow an attacker to remotely execute code if the user views a specially crafted or compromised Web page like the ones found by Sophos.

      “The malware that is downloaded is a very large Delphi-based Trojan, which includes an entire portable version of Firefox,” Cluley said. “It appears that they are trying to distribute this ‘customized’ version of Firefox to make money through clickable banner ads.”

      The vulnerability was uncovered by Google engineer Tavis Ormandy, who published exploit code on the Full Disclosure mailing list five days after notifying Microsoft of his findings. Some have criticized Ormandy’s actions, saying he did not give Microsoft enough time to patch before going public with details of the attack. Ormandy defended himself in his Full Disclosure post on the grounds that had he gone public without a working exploit he “would have been ignored.”

      Microsoft did not offer a definitive timeline for a patch, but told eWEEK a security update for the issue is forthcoming. In the meantime, the company has included information on a workaround in its advisory. Customers concerned about the exploit can disable the HCP protocol, which “will break all local, legitimate help links that use hcp://.”

      A tool that can be used to disable the HCP protocol can be downloaded here.

      Brian Prince

      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
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      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.

      ×