resource center
  See your link here
|
Subscribe to Computerworld TechWorld.com -
Microsoft Corp. has alerted users to a problem in Windows Firewall that could be exploited by attackers as part of a broader system infection. The problem means that Windows Firewall can be made to hide certain information from the user, Microsoft said.
The bug isn't itself a vulnerability, Microsoft said in an advisory last week, since it can't be used to invade a system. It is, rather, an "unexpected behavior" that an attacker could use to cover up malicious activity, Microsoft said.
The company issued a patch for the problem, available only to authenticated Windows users.
The flaw is in the way Windows Firewall displays exception entries, which are created by administrators to allow incoming network connections. If an exception is created in the registry, it won't be displayed in the Windows Firewall user interface, meaning users might not be able to spot the exception entry.
It's unlikely that such a registry entry would be created under ordinary circumstances, and a user couldn't create one without administrator privileges, Microsoft said.
"It is more likely that an attacker who has already compromised the system would create such malformed registry entries with intent to confuse a user," Microsoft said in the advisory.
The patch fixes the issue, and Microsoft also released a workaround, found in the relevant Knowledge Base entry. Microsoft also noted that the problem doesn't affect command line firewall administration tools.
Though the flaw could conceivably be of use to attackers, Microsoft said the problem wasn't security related.
"Although this is not a security vulnerability, this non-security update was issued to provide users a way to display malformed Windows Firewall configuration registry entries," the company said in the Knowledge Base article.
For more enterprise technology news from the U.K., please visit TechWorld.com. Copyright 2006 IDG, all rights reserved.
Centralized Data Backup and Your WAN
Is your organization prepared to tackle the massive challenge of protecting your data in a cost effective and timely manner? With a growing...
Why Compliance Pays
This OnDemand webcast explores the relationship that firms with best compliance records have higher revenue, greater customer retention, lower financial losses from data...
An All-in-One Approach to Web Security
Granting web access to employees poses challenges to IT administrators and introduces unique security risks. Even as companies have perfected their security techniques...
Best Practices for Managing Business Risks from the Use of IT
(Source: Symantec) Based on exhaustive benchmarks conducted by the IT Policy Compliance, this session highlights the relationship between business risks and use of...
The Hidden Dangers of Spam
Beyond the well-understood productivity drain that spam inflicts on businesses, threats posed by illicit email circulating through a network are causing many security...
Managing And Protecting Your Ever Increasing Mobile Assets
(Source: Absolute Software) Your users are becoming more mobile each day. This is great for productivity - yet challenging for IT control. Natalie...
Open Source Security Myths Dispelled
(Source: Astaro) Open Source Software is computer software whose source code is available to the general public. This openly viewable nature...
Sun OpenSSO Enterprise Webinar
(Source: Sun) This webinar replay discusses Sun OpenSSO Enterprise innovation--the single, open-source solution that helps your business solve the challenges around internal access...
Best Practices for Backing Up VMware® with Veritas NetBackup™
VMware® is used by enterprises large and small to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of their IT operations. With this in mind, Symantec...
Agile Enterprise Content Management (ECM) for Rapid ROI
(Source: IBM) Content rich business processes are a core feature of daily operations at just about any organization today. Very often these essential...
Sign up to receive updates on the latest Security resources
CIO
Computerworld
CSO
DEMO
GamePro
Games.net
IDC
IDG
IDG Connect
IDG Knowledge Hub
IDG TechNetwork
IDG Ventures
IDG.net
InfoWorld
ITwhitepapers
ITworld
JavaWorld
LinuxWorld
Macworld
Network World
PC World
The Industry Standard
Copyright © 1994 - 2009 Computerworld Inc. All
rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium
without express written permission ofComputerworld Inc. is prohibited. Computerworld and Computerworld.com and the respective logos are trademarks of International Data Group Inc. |
