Homeland Security: Fix Your Windows

Potential Worm Hole Found in Windows

by Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 08/13/2006 | 11:52 PM ]

Earlier this week, in a rare alert, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has urged Windows users to plug a potential worm hole in the Microsoft operating system.

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According to a report at Cnet News.com, the agency, which also runs the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), sent out a news release on Wednesday recommending that people apply Microsoft’s MS06-040 patch as quickly as possible. The software maker released the “critical” fix Tuesday as part of its monthly patch cycle.

“Users are encouraged to avoid delay in applying this security patch. The patch fixes a serious flaw that, if exploited, could enable an attacker to remotely take complete control of an affected system”, the Department of Homeland Security said in the statement.

Microsoft on Tuesday issued a dozen security bulletins, nine of which were tagged “critical,” the company’s highest severity rating. However, the flaw addressed in MS06-040 is the only one among the updates that could let an anonymous attacker remotely commandeer a Windows PC without any user interaction.

The flaw has some similarities to the Windows bug that enabled the notorious MSBlast worm to spread in 2003. Both security vulnerabilities are related to a Windows component called “remote procedure call,” which provides support for networking features such as file sharing and printer sharing.

“Blaster took advantage of a vulnerability in the same service. We recognize that this is something that is easily exploitable. It is excellent that DHS sent out this alert, because I think a lot of people are vulnerable,” said Amol Sarwate, the manager of vulnerability research lab at Qualys.

• Cnet News.com: Homeland Security: Fix Your Windows.