Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Newest Microsoft IE patch flawed!

  1. #1
    Fastest Thing Alive s0nIc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    1,584

    Thumbs down Newest Microsoft IE patch flawed!

    (IDG) -- A new patch designed to address six serious security vulnerabilities in Microsoft's Internet Explorer doesn't fix all the problems it purports to, according to security researchers.

    The patch, which was released late last Wednesday, is designed to fix a cross-site scripting problem and other security and privacy flaws affecting Internet Explorer (IE) versions 5.01 through 6 and the Outlook e-mail client. However, the patch only fixes the cross-site scripting issue on one of the listed browsers and fails to address a second vulnerability altogether, according to two security researchers who sent e-mail to the Bugtraq security e-mail list after the patch's release.

    According to Microsoft's explanation of the issues, the first flaw can only be exploited when a user clicks on an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) link on a Web page or in an e-mail message. That's not true, as code embedded in an HTML file can automatically execute, according to both Thor Larholm, a security researcher who has discovered a number of Microsoft vulnerabilities and maintains a list of unpatched IE holes online, and the Israeli security group GreyMagic Software, which has also discovered a number of browser vulnerabilities. As a result, users can unwittingly launch malicious code simply by opening an infected e-mail message.

    The patch doesn't completely fix the problem because the flaw resides in the dialogArguments component of IE, which is not addressed by the patch, both researchers said. Furthermore, though Microsoft claims the flaw only exists in IE 6, both researchers maintain that the problem is also found in IE 5.01 and 5.5.

    "Microsoft is aware of the issues and is investigating the reports," a Microsoft spokesman said. Microsoft maintains that the patch does what the company said, but the company is also investigating the researcher's claims, the spokesman said.

    After further testing of the patch, both Larholm and GreyMagic said that the patch also fails to adequately address a second vulnerability that it claims to fix, a problem that could allow an attacker to remotely read documents on a PC.

    In the original vulnerability, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), a component of HTML, could be used to remotely read files on an affected PC, according to GreyMagic's original advisory. Though the patch claims to address this issue as well, GreyMagic posted code on its Web site last Friday demonstrating that the vulnerability can still be exploited by using a URL that redirects the user, as opposed to accessing the files directly. Larholm sent an e-mail about the issue and his testing of it, as well as GreyMagic's update, to Bugtraq last Friday.

    Microsoft maintained that the patch does what it is advertised as doing, and called the reports of the Cascading Style Sheets vulnerability "after- the-fact," in the words of a Microsoft spokesman.

    The CSS vulnerability is a distinct issue from the one addressed by the patch and is being investigated by the company, he said.

    The new bug reports "shouldn't raise any doubts about the efficacy of the patch," he said. "Microsoft still has confidence in the patch."

    The patch at issue can be found via the link below.

    This isn't the first time that a Microsoft patch has caused problems for users. Another IE patch, released February, caused the browser to crash.

    Source: http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/interne...idg/index.html

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Posts
    137
    LoL good ole' microsoft, They alwayz screw up!
    XPaCiScOoL

    [glowpurple]\"Your Smallest Flaw is my greatest Strength.\" - Me[/glowpurple]

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Posts
    253

    Angry

    Sometime this morning, I installed the "latest" insecurity patch on the last computer.
    Now I learn that those patches are flawed.
    <mega grumble>


  4. #4
    Fastest Thing Alive s0nIc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    1,584
    LMAO.. i feel thesame way.. i just downloaded the latest patches yesterday... and now im pissed coz it took ages to download and install and it wasnt even worth my time downloading.. GRRRR!

  5. #5
    AntiOnline Newbie
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Posts
    91
    Now I don't need to feel so bad about always being weeks or months behind others in applying patches. I can just say I am letting others "beta test" the patches first!


  6. #6
    Did you really expect anything different from MS.

    P.s. switch to opera then you won't have to worry about patching IE (and its also much faster!!!)
    live life, don\'t just endure it

  7. #7
    Fastest Thing Alive s0nIc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    1,584
    im using Opera 6.02 (registered version)... but i have 2 use my IE to do my internet banking.. since the site isnt compatible with Opera.

  8. #8
    Can't you just click "Identify as MSIE 5.0" in the peferences? Worked for me in a few sites that weren't Opera compatible.
    live life, don\'t just endure it

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •