New zero-day flaw discovered in older versions of Internet Explorer
Monday, November 23, 2009
Security researchers at Symantec report that new malware has targeted a memory corruption vulnerability in Internet Explorer 6 and 7, which carries the potential for system crashes or malicious redirects.
The company revealed the vulnerability in a blog post over the weekend, saying that, while the current iteration of the malware showed "signs of poor reliability," they expect well-written exploit code to hit the internet in "the near future." The Javascript-based exploit - which the researchers have dubbed Bloodhound.Exploit.129 - requires prospective victims to visit an infected website.
As usual, the best way to avoid being infected by this malware is to ensure that all of the latest security patches and updates have been applied. Symantec recommends disabling Javascript and only visiting trusted websites until Microsoft can release a bugfix for the vulnerability.
Though long since superseded by Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 6 and 7 are still widely used by some enterprise consumers for reasons of compatibility and familiarity. Experts recommend upgrading to the latest version and keeping all software patched.
Related News:
Estonian cyber criminal jailed for targeting web security - 3.12.2010
The author of the Allaple malware strain that targeted local insurance firms and scores of other websites recently received a prison sentence of nearly three years. Arthur Boiko, a 44-year-old man from Estonia, pled not guilty to the charges, but a jury found him guilty after prosecutors claimed he sought revenge against the insurance company that denied his claim.
Small businesses need stronger web security - 3.11.2010
Cyber criminals have increased efforts to target the bank accounts of small businesses because they frequently do not have the web security measures in place that larger companies do, according to David Nelson of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
UK bankers struggle with online fraud - 3.11.2010
Online banking fraud cost bankers in the UK the equivalent of nearly $90 million in 2009, according business technology website Silicon.com.
Koobface changes as web security professionals prepare attack - 3.11.2010
As web security professionals attempt to take down Koobface, the cyber criminals that designed the malware strain have altered the virus to escape potential elimination, according the Register, a technology news website based in the UK.
Cyber criminals target web security with phony Windows update - 3.11.2010
As more people update from Windows Vista or Windows XP, cyber criminals have developed malware that takes advantage of people's desire to make the move, according to Computer Weekly.
|
