Security news10 April 2007
Microsoft patches more critical vulnerabilities in its software "PC users must patch now," advises Sophos
Some of the vulnerabilities have been rated as critical by Microsoft
Sophos, a world leader in IT security and control, has advised computer users to install a number of critical security patches from Microsoft released today.
As part of its monthly "Patch Tuesday" schedule Microsoft has issued five new bulletins (four of them labeled "critical") about security vulnerabilities in its software. The most serious security flaws described could allow remote code execution, enabling a hacker to access data on a vulnerable PC or run malicious code such as a worm.
- MS07-018. Critical. Could allow Remote Code Execution. Affects Microsoft Content Management Server.
- MS07-019. Critical. Could allow Remote Code Execution. Affects Universal Plug and Play.
- MS07-020. Critical. Could allow Remote Code Execution. Affects Microsoft Agent.
- MS07-021. Critical. Could allow Remote Code Execution. Affects CSRSS (Windows Client/Server Run-time Subsystem)
- MS07-022. Important. Could allow Remote Elevation of Privilege. Affects Windows Kernel.
The release of the patches follows one week after Microsoft released an emergency update to fix a flaw in the way Windows handles animated cursors (ANI files). Many attempts by hackers have been made to exploit this flaw during April, including a malicious spam campaign that included a provocative picture of Britney Spears.
"Many versions of Windows, including the latest edition of Windows Vista, are affected by these critical security flaws," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "Hackers will show no mercy in taking advantage of these vulnerabilities in Microsoft's code unless companies and home consumers patch against them as a matter of priority. Anyone not taking these flaws seriously is asking for trouble."
Home users of Microsoft Windows can visit update.microsoft.com to have their systems scanned for Microsoft security vulnerabilities.
Sophos suggests that every IT manager responsible for security should consider subscribing to vulnerability mailing lists such as that operated by Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/notify.mspx.
Sophos continues to recommend companies protect their desktops and servers with automatically updated protection against viruses, spyware, and spam.
Free virus scan
- Free virus, spyware, and adware scan
- Test your existing anti-virus protection
- Find threats your anti-virus missed
About Sophos
More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership. Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs - a global network of threat intelligence centers. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.
