http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/12/13/HNthirdword_1.html
By Robert McMillan
IDG News Service
December 13, 2006
Hackers have released attack code that exploits a critical vulnerability
in Microsoft's Word software -- the third such bug to be disclosed in
the past week.
The proof of concept code was posted Tuesday on the Milw0rm.com Web
site, making it widely available to the hacking community. It exploits a
previously unreported bug in Word.
Like the other recent Word bugs disclosed this past week, it could be
used by attackers to run unauthorized software on a victim's computer,
said David Marcus, security research and communications manager with
McAfee Inc.'s Avert Labs
Attackers have been using these Word exploits in extremely targeted
attacks, where a small number of victims are sent an e-mail with a
maliciously encoded Word document attached. The hackers use social
engineering techniques to try to trick the victim into opening the
dangerous attachment.
For example, in a recent Word attack, first reported Sunday, the
malicious e-mail "was sent to a very high-profile company, directly to
three people at the company," Marcus said.
Microsoft is investigating reports of this latest Word bug, a spokesman
for the company's public relations agency said.
Though they are not being widely exploited, the unpatched Word
vulnerabilities are causing some enterprises concern.
At the Port of Seattle, for example, users are being cautioned and
e-mail with Word attachments is getting a little more scrutiny, said
Ernie Hayden, chief information security manager with the port. "We've
done some blocking on our e-mail, and we've had dialogue with people
with respect to what our expectations are," he said.
Attacks on Microsoft's Office software have been on the rise for months
now, said Marc Maiffret, chief technology officer with security vendor
eEye Digital Security Inc. Office vulnerabilities were once released "on
a monthly basis," he said. "Now we're at the point were it's almost
daily."
Still, publishing attack code ultimately works contrary to the interests
of the bad guys, he added. "It's kind of disruptive, and it creates a
panic," he said. "But all it does is make the industry focus and come up
with a resolution."
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Received on Dec 14 2006
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