Cyber Risks · Krebs on Security

MS: Be Careful With Those Function Keys

Summary: Microsoft issued a security advisory warning that Windows 2000, XP and Server 2003 users running Internet Explorer 6, 7 or 8 should ignore pop-up prompts asking them to press the F1 key, because a flaw in how those systems process Windows Help files could let criminals download and install malicious software. The warning came from Polish security firm iSec Security Research, and Microsoft said it may at some point issue a software update to address the flaw.

Bottom line: The attack needs only one keystroke from a user who trusts a pop-up, and Microsoft's response at the time was an advisory with a fix only possibly coming later - leaving every IE 6, 7 and 8 user on those older Windows versions exposed in the interim.

Read the original at Krebs on Security ↗

Topics
Vulnerabilities & Patching
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