Microsoft Investigating New IE6 Flaw

By Nate Mook | Published August 30, 2005, 10:58 AM

Microsoft said it is investigating a report of a new potentially critical flaw discovered in Internet Explorer by security researcher Tom Ferris. The problem affects fully patched Windows XP SP2 systems running IE6, and could lead to remote code executation.

Ferris, who has been credited by Microsoft as finding a security vulnerability in the Remote Desktop Protocol, says he reported the issue to Microsoft on August 14. Ferris is not sharing any specifics of the flaw in order to keep users safe while Microsoft develops a patch, but he has posted a screenshot of IE crashing from the bug.

Comments

View comments by with a score of at least

As I WATCH CNN REPORTS CONCERNING THE KATRINA DISASTER AND VIEW THEIR USE OF GOOGLE EARTH TO ILLUSTRATE THE DEVASTATION I AM REMINDED THAT SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT OUGHT TO GO BEYHOND THE BOTTOM LINE. MICROSOFT CANNOT DEVELOP A SIMPLE BROWSER SUCH AS IE 6.WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM VISTA????????????????????????????????????????????

Score: 0

|

IE has a flaw, wow this is a first. I can't believe this happend to Internet Explorer. Its SOOO safe. I don't know how this could have happend. HAHA

Score: 0

|

Thank you Tom! Finally someone doing it the right way! He found the exploit, contacted MS and is now waiting for them to fix it before going into details about it.

Score: 0

|

Most researchers do it that way. The problem is that not everyone will go ahead and install the patch causing problems like zotob.

Score: 0

|

zotob was infecting less than 4 days from release of a patch. If you know large corporate networks you know how hard it is to test patches across your enterprise. Had they patched early and it broke their network would they then be free from criticism?

The solution is immediate testing in lab environments, then scales releases across your WAN by specific groups. CNN was up and running fine the next day, btw.

Score: 0

|

CNN wouldn't have had any problems if they had a decently secure network.

Score: 0

|

'A pivot from war to peace:' The AMD + Intel armistice, in their own words

An extraordinary day in technology history is recognized by two long-time rivals that mutually decided it's futile to fight anyplace else except the marketplace.

PS3, Xbox to soon get Twitter, Facebook integration

Both Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3 will integrate with Facebook in the near future.

Windows Marketplace for Mobile now available in browser, iTunes' App Store still not

You can now check out what Windows Marketplace for Mobile has to offer without a Windows Phone.

Microsoft damage control after marketer claims Win7 inspired by Mac

Have you ever said anything you wish you could take back? Ever? No? Not even once? Well then, you won't sympathize with a mid-level Microsoft manager today.

Blockbuster's way down, but poised for a comeback

Though it took a serious beating in 2009, Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes says the company can turn it around.

iTunes Preview deson't go far enough to create Web-based option for store

Apple has rolled out iTunes Preview, a Web interface for browsing iTunes.

PDC 2009 Preview: The move to Office 2010 and Visual Studio 2010

The major focus of Microsoft's conference next week will likely be explaining why two pillars of its software sales strategy deserve to remain where they are.

Dell's first smartphone aids the Android onslaught

Longtime PC leader Dell has finally announced its Android-based smarphone.

After the Intel + AMD armistice: Do we really want a level playing field?

Scott Fulton On Point: One by one, the reasons for us to continue suspending the course toward open and fair competition in IT, are dropping like flies.

FLO TV launches pocketable, smartphone-like TVs

Qualcomm's FLO TV Personal Television made by HTC launches in retail today.

Google acquires Gizmo5, builds IP telephony portfolio

Google Voice today confirmed rumors that it would acquire IP telephony company Gizmo5