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'Critical' Windows Hijack Flaw Reported

Unknown   on 27 April 2004 - 14:30 · 14 comments & 1111 views

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Security researchers have discovered a serious boundary error vulnerability in multiple versions of Microsoft's Windows platform and warned that attackers could hijack systems via Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer (IE).

Rodrigo Gutierrez, a researcher with Trustix AS, notified Microsoft of the flaw with a warning that it could be exploited by malicious attackers to cause a buffer overflow and lead to system takeover.

Microsoft confirmed Gutierrez's findings in an advisory and recommended users install the latest service packs for Windows XP and Windows 2000. The software giant said the hole was fixed in the service packs but independent security consultants Secunia said the vulnerability "has been confirmed on fully patched systems running Windows XP and Windows 2000."

Secunia rates the flaw as "highly critical" and urged Windows XP and Windows 2000 users to restrict traffic in border routers and firewalls as a temporary workaround. Users could also disable the "Client for Microsoft Networks" for network cards to impact file sharing functionality.

The flaw also reportedly affects Windows 95, 98, and Me and Secunia said it was unknown whether Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2003 were at risk.

View: Read more at Internet News
News source: Internet News


pulled, rude comments, shit story. Not worth the hassle.

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#1 donachello on 27 Apr 2004 - 14:38
How come it's taken so long for them to discover this flaw...
(1 reply) #2 donachello on 27 Apr 2004 - 14:40
Maybe they should change the Windows logo to an open window...
#2.1 kitteny_berk on 27 Apr 2004 - 15:07
they should just change it to "that" .CX site... pretty much covers the security
(1 reply) #3 PseudoRandomDragon on 27 Apr 2004 - 16:43
Yikes! Good thing I am not using IE!
#3.1 IntelliMoo on 27 Apr 2004 - 17:44
Oh but you are! LOL unless of course you replaced Windows Explorer as your shell.
#4 rogerroger on 27 Apr 2004 - 18:23
QUOTE
Users could also disable the "Client for Microsoft Networks" for network cards to impact file sharing functionality.


And to further protect yourself, unplug all cables from the back of your computer, turn off the lights, lock the door and go sit in a corner, silently.




ohhhhh..the bogeyman is coming!
(2 replies) #5 eris on 27 Apr 2004 - 18:39
Thats why i use and recommend mozilla. The features and extra plugins make it a fine browser. Personally i have found out that a lot of problems people have with windows were caused by IE/Outlook. When asked to "repair" something, i fix the problem and install mozilla and am not botherd again for a long time. After quite a while i ask if everything is still ok and am usally told that they are very satisfied with mozilla.
#5.1 markjensen on 27 Apr 2004 - 18:51
That's no better than suggesting Opera every time there is a problem in Mozilla/Firefox, or back to IE when there is a problem in Opera...

People should have a reasonable expectation that the major app they prefer should be relatively free from major security problems (and when these problems show up, as they always will), then a rapid patch to fix the problem.

The real ambiguity at this point is: Microsoft claims this was fixed with SP1, while Trustix AS claims that even the patched version is still vunerable.
#5.2 WingZero on 28 Apr 2004 - 19:55
Strange, i didn't know mozilla also replaced the Windows Explorer.

Oh, wait, it doesnt
(2 replies) #6 eris on 27 Apr 2004 - 19:07
The problem is that there are still too many known open vulnerabilities in IE and ms is not fixing them.
#6.1 Andareed on 27 Apr 2004 - 20:26
Surely these flaws can't be critical. If they were, wouldn't there be widespread worms and viruses taking advantage of these holes?
#6.2 eris on 27 Apr 2004 - 22:01
Yes and no for example there are tools available that any 13 year old can use to create a unique malicious programm so no virus scanner will notice it when an IE user visits a specially crafted webpage.
#7 Grappa on 27 Apr 2004 - 20:28
OMG! A buffer-overflow vulnerability in IE!?? INCONCEIVABLE!!
#8 warr on 28 Apr 2004 - 01:11
what's new?

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