Newsletter Sign-Up

Receive the latest technology news and information.

DirectX flaws put Windows systems at risk, Microsoft warns

'Critical' holes are widespread

By Joris Evers, IDG News Service

July 24, 2003 12:00 PM ET

IDG News Service - Two security bugs in DirectX, a part of the Windows operating system that provides multimedia support, could allow an attacker to gain control over computers running it, Microsoft Corp. warned yesterday.
The flaw is in the way DirectX checks Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) music files, Microsoft said in Security Bulletin MS03-030. An attacker could take advantage of the flaws by hosting a specially crafted MIDI file on a Web site or sending that file in an HTML e-mail, the company said.
DirectX is part of most currently supported versions of Windows, including Windows 98, Windows XP and Windows 2000. Exceptions are Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition, which are vulnerable only if Windows Media Player 6.4 or Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 is installed, Microsoft said.
Versions of DirectX from 5.2 up to 9.0a are affected, according to Microsoft. Patches to fix the problem are available on Microsoft's security Web site, as is DirectX 9.0b, a new version of the software that includes the security fix, Microsoft said. The DirectX flaw is rated "critical," which means that customers are urged to install the patch immediately.
Microsoft issued two other security bulletins, MS03-031 and MS03-029. These bulletins warn of less serious flaws in several SQL Server database products and in Windows NT 4.0 Server.

Reprinted with permission from

IDG.net
Story copyright 2009 International Data Group. All rights reserved.

Recommend Digg Twitter ShareThis

Email Print Send Feedback Reprints

Jump to comments

Viruses

Additional Resources

Xerox

Win a color printer!

By using solid ink technology only from Xerox, you could save up to 65% by printing color for the cost of black and white. Enter for a chance to WIN a PhaserTM 8860 network color printer!

Microsoft

Upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 today.

Save time and mitigate security risk. Deploy it now.

Sybase

NEXT-GENERATION MOBILITY PLATFORMS

In this white paper, IDC analyzes the role of next-generation mobile enterprise platforms as organizations seek a more strategic deployment of mobile solutions.

Learn the important issues you must consider before starting your next mobility initiative. Get your mobility white paper from IDC now, compliments of Sybase.

White Papers & Webcasts

Share our Strength
Download Now

Key Strategies for Managing Data Growth
What are you storage challenges?

Can Heuristic Technology Help Your Company Fight Viruses?
What is Heuristic Technology and how can it help safeguard your business against viruses? Learn more.

Extending Client Refresh - 11 Steps to Maximize Savings
Register Now!

Eradicate Spam & Gain 100% Asurance of Clean Mailboxes
Get this paper now!

Lower the Cost and Complexity of a Mobile Workforce through Automation
Download This Resource Now!

Mastering eDiscovery: The IT Manager's Guide to Preservation, Protection & Production
Get this paper now!

Managing Mobility: Improve Data Security, Compliance and Manageability
Download This Resource Now!

Not Just Words: Enforce Your Email and Web Acceptable Usage Policies
Get this paper now!

Consolidate Your Servers and Storage to Lower Costs with Oracle Database 11g
Register for this webcast!

All White Papers | All Webcasts

Computerworld Reports

8 Questions To Ask About Your Intrusion-Security Solution

Computerworld Technology Briefings IT Service Management

Computerworld Briefing - Analytics: The Art and Science of Better

All Computerworld Reports

	Security
	Virus and Vulnerability Roundup
	Computerworld Daily News (First Look and Wrap-Up)
	Computerworld Blogs Newsletter
	The Weekly Top 10
	Cloud Computing

resource center