Posted on 12/11/2001 9:11:38 PM PST by toupsie
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Microsoft To Plug Devastating Browser Download Hole |
By Brian McWilliams, Newsbytes The patch for Internet Explorer (IE) is currently in testing and could be released soon, according to Jouko Pynnonen, a security researcher with Finland's Oy Online Solutions. Pynnonen reported the IE vulnerability to Microsoft on Nov. 19 and recently tested the software fix at the company's request. The vulnerability affects IE for Windows versions 5, 5.5, and 6, said Pynnonen. Citing the severity of the flaw, he refused to release technical details about the method he found for bypassing the browser's system for securely handling downloaded files. A Microsoft spokesperson said the company does not currently have any information to share on the issue and declined to discuss the status of the browser patch. By design, IE should warn users when they attempt to download and open an executable file. But as a result of the security flaw, a malicious Web site could "relatively easily and unnoticeably ... spread virii, install DDoS zombies or backdoors, format hard disks, and so on," wrote Pynnonen in an advisory posted Nov. 26 to Bugtraq, a mailing list for security experts. Pynnonen revealed that the bug lies in IE's processing of Internet addresses and "header" information that tells the browser what type of file it is handling. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited using ordinary Web page code, without help from JavaScript or other scripting programs, he said. Oy Online Solutions offered to demonstrate the flaw at a private Web site only if recipients of the demo signed an agreement not to disclose information about the exploit. Chris Wysopal, director of research and development for AtStake, a security consulting firm, characterized the IE download flaw as "a very serious problem" and potentially one of the most severe ever to affect the browser. However, to exploit the vulnerability, "attackers would probably need control of a Web server so that they could control the information sent in the HTTP header," Wysopal said. As a result, attacks could be traced to the malicious site. According to Pynnonen, the vulnerability also may affect users of Microsoft's Outlook and Outlook Express e-mail readers, which rely on IE to display messages in Web-page or HTML format. Qualcomm's Eudora e-mail reader, which optionally uses IE for HTML display, could also be vulnerable, he said. Until the patch is available from Microsoft, Pynnonen said concerned users can temporarily disable IE's ability to download files. To do so, users should select Internet Options from the Tools menu. Then select the Security tab and click on Custom Level. Scroll down to the listing for Downloads and disable file downloads. Pynnonen's initial advisory on the flaw did not describe the automatic downloading vulnerability and was concerned instead with the browser's failure to properly differentiate between file types. A subsequent message sent to Microsoft and Bugtraq Nov. 28 described the more serious issues but was not published on Bugtraq by joint agreement between Pynnonen and the list's moderator, the security researcher said. Microsoft initially denied that the ability to "spoof" file types in IE represented a security vulnerability, but the company later changed its position, according to Pynnonen. Last month Microsoft patched a security flaw in IE's handling of browser cookie files after Pynnonen reported the vulnerability to the company. Pynnonen's original report on the IE download spoofing flaw is at http://www.solutions.fi/index.cgi/news_2001_11_26?lang=eng Microsoft security information site is at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/default.asp Reported by Newsbytes, http://www.newsbytes.com . 13:09 CST (20011211/WIRES ONLINE, LEGAL, PC/HOLE/PHOTO)
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A.,
11 Dec 2001, 1:09 PM CST Microsoft [NASDAQ:MSFT] will patch a flaw in its Web browser that could allow an attacker to silently download and execute malicious programs on the computers of users who view a specially constructed Web page or e-mail message.
Reposted 13:33 CST
For a direct download link try store.apple.com
Shut the entire thing down.
Users got a message, "The Zone is now a Microsoft® .NET Passport site! Your existing Zone Account still works, but to play you must first sign in to .NET Passport or register for a new .NET Passport account. .NET Passport provides many benefits, including a shared sign-in through all .NET Passport sites and free accounts on other sites, such as Money Central and MSN Chat.
Click on the .NET Passport Sign-in button to sign in to .NET Passport or register for a new .NET Passport account.
If you are already signed in and don't wish to sign out, click your browser's Back button to return to the previous page. If you wish to sign out, click the .NET Passport button below.
And the thing would crash when you tried to get in.
MS's 'new and improved' internet, for your entertainment.
I wonder how many years it will be before MS works all the serious bugs out of .NET?
If they're still having so much trouble perfecting a Web Browser, after going on a decade of making them?
"Microsoft Internet Exploder. We've "fixed" it a few hundred times, and the damn thing still doesn't work right."
Scroll down to the listing for Downloads and disable file downloads.
So, in order to be safe, don't use your browser to download ZoneAlarm, security patches, music files, pictures or anything else.
I'm glad I don't use Microsoft anymore. This would even screw up my old habit of only using IE to download Netscape.
Those of us that have thrown off the Microsoft shackles wonder why the rest of you still put up with this crap.
Knitebane
Knitebane
or
Which do you think it was? On purpose, or pure accident?
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