Posted on 09/19/2006 5:36:00 PM PDT by Eagle9
An unpatched vulnerability in all editions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser is being exploited, security researchers said Tuesday, with the attack dumping a broad range of adware, spyware, and Trojans onto PCs whose users simply surf to an infected or malicious site.
First reported by Sunbelt Software -- although rival Internet Security Systems claimed it was the first to discover the bug -- the vulnerability is in how IE renders VML (Vector Mark-up Language), an extension of XML that defines on-the-Web images in vector graphics format. The previously unknown -- and thus unpatched -- bug inside IE is already being used by attackers.
So far, said Eric Sites, vice president of research and development at Sunbelt, the exploit has shown up on hardcore porn sites, which are serving a buffet of badware to users who visit those sites.
"First they were pushing Virtumondo adware," said Sites, "but by late afternoon yesterday, these sites were distributing more than 40 different types of malware, including keyloggers, adware, and backdoors."
The new exploit seems to have a connection to WebAttacker, an multi-exploit attack "kit" created by a Russian group that sells for as little as $15 to $20. "We think that this new exploit is inside a new [version of the] kit," said Sites. "If that's true, then it will end up all over the place."
Sites said he expects that the exploit will migrate to one of the so-called "iframe cash" sites -- the term comes from the iframecash.biz site -- which use affiliates to push unpatched exploits to a large number of other Web sites, some of which are legitimate addresses whose servers have been previously compromised.
"This could end up being in lots
(Excerpt) Read more at techweb.com ...
(excerpt)
We are currently unaware of a practical solution to this problem. Until a patch or update is available consider the following workarounds:
Refer to the following workarounds listed in Microsoft Security Advisory (925568):
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I choose to use an alternative solution: Firefox or Opera as my browser.
So... you wanna ping Bush2k?
: )
Only idiots or masochists still use IE. Smart, sane people use Firefox, Mozilla/Seamonkey, and/or Opera 9.
I'm with you. Not only is Firefox minus the MS security bugs, it was faster than IE from the first day. Now, I have converted many friends and relatives to Mozilla's browser and their Email client (Thundebird) as well. And, the Mozilla community has new extension and plug-ins for both apps all th e time.
I used it for quite some time after a friend recommended it and went back to IE for it is more user friendly.
"So far, said Eric Sites, vice president of research and development at Sunbelt, the exploit has shown up on hardcore porn sites, which are serving a buffet of badware to users who visit those sites. "
Oh, well. I guess I'm safe then, since I never go to porn sites. Porn sites have had nasty adware on them for years.
The last time I heard from him, he was buying a Mac.
As of this point in time, while I conduct various forms of business on line, I have found that none restrict me to the use of IE. Entities which formerly did require IE either have become compatible with Firefox or have created other means to work around limiting folk to IE. [Discover Card is an example.]
You must be a Dale Carnegie heir.
I use fire fox for all my on line use. But I have a few applications that won't recognize fire fox as my default browser.
My county clerkk's website refuses to do any financial transactions unless the user has IE.
Firefox. It's better anyway IMO. Lots better.
You gotta be kidding.
That guy is a True Believer®
Go to the next county board meeting and ask them why they're wasting taxpayer's dollars...
if I'm online and have to go to a website that only accepts IE, I'll get their e-mail and send them a note telling them that until they accept firefox, I'll not be visiting..I don't use IE and will not under any circumstances unless work required..and fortunately, I have to use IE there but it's on a company network that's isolated..otherwise, it's firefox for me..
Clearly...George Bush's fault.
"As many on line applications only accept IE as their default I would like to know how you would allow them to accept Fire fox."
easy, use firefox for your day to day sites, avoid the porn sites, and only use IE for the online application sites that require IE. Don't connect to any other site with IE except the application. This isn't foolproof but it does minimize the risk.
I'm a Mac user. If I was going to fight them it would be to get them to support Safari, but I'm not in the mood to beat my head against the wall ;-}
I never had any issues with applications using FireFox nor do I have anything against it, however I find IE to be more catering to me personally in allowing more time doing business and less time figuring.
FireFox IMO is a good browser, I just prefer IE and don't have the adverse issues using it that have been discussed.
It's the apps that require IE that are infuriating. Quickbooks Pro requires IE.
A fundraising donor tracking package a lot of nonprofits use is Giftworks from MissionResearch is just a script running in IE, and as admin at that. They'll get killed by this. Heck, they get killed by the Kodak photo CDs from the Big Box stores, that one rewrites IE.
Lots of buck$ for those that repair computers.
LOL!
I love Opera9, good solid browser.
"Heck, they get killed by the Kodak photo CDs from the Big Box stores, that one rewrites IE."
What does this mean?
Wouldnt a simple solution be to not go to porn sites?
(ducking)
(excerpt)
http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2006/09/seen-in-wild-zero-day-exploit-being.html
http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/author/vml/SHAPE/introduction.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/925568.mspx
This vulnerability was reported by Sunbelt Software.
This document was written by Jeff Gennari.
| Date Public | 09/18/2006 |
| Date First Published | 09/19/2006 11:14:35 AM |
| Date Last Updated | 09/19/2006 |
| CERT Advisory | |
| CVE Name | CVE-2006-3866 |
| Metric | 37.87 |
| Document Revision | 26 |
If I site requires me to use IE, I will generally email the contact people listed in the WHOIS record and then stop using the site. Since I use Linux as my desktop OS, using IE is not an option and I couldn't be happier. Again, I simply stop using that site if I have to use IE. The trick is not to use IE in the first place; and I never have. I've transitioned from Netscape -> Mozilla -> Firefox and never took that poison pill that is the blue e.
Secondly, IE is years behind in features. I cannot browse the web without tabs and the RSS/live bookmarks in Firefox. IE 6 with SP2, for example, finally included an integrated a pop-up blocker. Opera and the Mozilla browsers had them since at least 2002. Tabs? Again, Opera has had them since the late 90's and Mozilla-based browsers since '02 or so. IE7 will have tabs, only a few years behind. RSS? Yup. For a couple of years now feeds can be incorporated into Firefox. IE7 will have them.
The development team for IE7 was given one directive: "copy Firefox."
If you don't ditch IE for security, least you can do is it ditch it for its dearth of features.
By the way, IE is also a piece of junk.
I mean Kodak installs new DLLs, registry entries, and other goodies to run its picture browser. When you pop in the CD it is installed automatically. There is no uninstall. Wipe and reinstall.
This software won't install if you're running as a Limited User, but you're running as Admin, aren't you? I suspect this latest batch of spyware only installs as admin.
Sometimes, QB won't run after the KKodak changes. Hope you have a recent backup. Giftworks almost never runs. Many other apps barf on the changes.
BTW, Microsoft says XP was designed to run as admin in a KB article. I use a Mac.
I had trouble with a kodak disc that came with a camera. It sounded to me like you were talking about the discs with photos on them from a photo lab. Am I mistaken?
No you don't.
Like I said, I found it to be a very formidable browser while using it, however I prefer IE (apparently) for I went back to it.
I'm not a "dyed in the wool" supporter of IE, I just prefer it without getting into the intricities as to what the two have to offer.
I'm happy with it for I does what I require of it to do for me.
stop looking at porn and you dont have anything to worry about. :)
My Bank's internet banking requires IE or Netscape. I don't think it's worth changing banks over a browser. I use Firefox for most browsing, but I use IE for online banking.
thanks - explains a lot about in the wild troubleshooting today........
No worries. I just view browsers as having (for the most part) a narrow feature set. However, security shows a much different balance.
But last time I checked - it is America, so browse as you wish.
save yourselves - ping!
A website about drugs (legal OTC and prescription stuff) that was the top result on Google recently downloaded a trojan on my computer. The stupid thing would show as infecting my computer everytime I rebooted even after the anti-virus said it cleaned it. It took several hours of running several online AV scans, deleting, rebooting and deleting system restores to get the stupid thing clean.
Another great commercial for firefox.
There are plug-ins for Firefox that let you change the reported "user-agent" (essentially the info sent to the server that tells it what browser you're using).
Don't know if that'd solve either of your respective problems, but could be worth a shot.
LOL, Spyware, sounds familiar
They're very similar. Why not just get a USB card reader and edit with Irfanview? Works better for me with my Nikon. You could also use Bibble, it's great.
If you do the Firefox thing install some add ins. I use UserAgentSwitcher, Adblock+, FilterSetGUpdater, CustomizeGoogle, NoScript, Unplug, Scrapbook, Flashblock, Fasterfox, Safecache, and Safehistory.
I've used them both for a while and very rarely do I see an advertisement, anymore.
That is exactly what I do. A very few sites that I use in my business only work with IE, and a few non work related sites. But these are sites that I am sure are not malicious. Generally, if it is not a necessary site and it only works with IE, then tough, I just don't use it. But really, I don't have to resort to IE much at all.
IE more user friendly? Only when it is run in the default set-up: With every security risk wide-open.
A lot of times "user friendly" is really just what we are habitually accustomed to. And even still, the few things in FF that require an extra step, well, I figure it is a reasonable price to pay for all the other aspects that are superior.
WebTV has no viruses, worms, trojans, popups
Amazing a dinky inexpensive unit by MSFT can ignore them
But expensive PCs require lots of fun stuff, firewalls, screens, security software
Makes one wonder
Do PC users enjoy the pain?
If they are so great why is a WebTV immune?
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