Google patches holes in Toolbar

A series of security holes in the Google Toolbar, an application offered by the popular search engine that adds easily accessible search features to Web browsers, could allow an attacker to read files, reroute searches and execute scripts on an affected PC, according to a security alert released yesterday by GreyMagic Software.

GreyMagic identified a total of nine vulnerabilities ranging from minor - a Web site operator being able to tell what keys a user is pressing in the Google search field - to serious - the scripting vulnerability. Among the less serious flaws found is the search bar keylogging described above, enabling the "Page Rank" and "Category" features that could reveal user information, clearing the toolbar's history or even uninstalling the application.

More seriously, by using a specific Uniform Resource Locator (URL), attackers could reroute searches through their own Web sites, allowing them to log information about users, the security group said. By using other URLs containing scripts, an attacker can read files on the affected PC or execute scripts in the same security context that Web pages are viewed.

The flaws were all patched by Google's automatic update to the toolbar, released on Wednesday, meaning that many Google Toolbar users should already be protected against the holes, GreyMagic said.

News Source: Computer Weekly 360