Just one day after Microsoft issued a massive set of security patches for its
software, hackers have begun posting code showing how to exploit one of the flaws.

The proof-of-concept code, posted
Wednesday to the Milw0rm Web site, exploits a bug in the Microsoft Works
file converter software that is part of Office 2003 and can be used to run unauthorized
software on a victim's computer.

The flaw also affects Works 8 and Works Suite 2005. To fall prey to the attack,
a victim would first have to open a malicious Works attachment.

Hackers have uncovered many of these file-format bugs in recent years and they
are generally not used in widespread attacks. In fact, security vendor Symantec
predicts that we'll see fewer of these attacks in the months ahead as online
criminals increasingly rely on browser bugs to do their dirty work.

"The bad guys, they're looking for different ways to trick people,"
said Wayne Periman, director of development with Symantec Security Response.
"The popular method of choice is to exploit plugins in browsers right now."

Still, Periman expects criminals to try out this latest attack code. "It's
so simple," he said. "All you have to do is get someone to open the
document."

As of Wednesday, Symantec had not seen any signs of attackers taking advantage
of any of the flaws that Microsoft fixed this week.

The software vendor released 11 sets of patches this week, fixing 17 flaws
in its products, but this is the first exploit code to pop up following Tuesday's
updates. A second program exploiting one of these vulnerabilities -- this one
in an ActiveX control used by the Visual FoxPro database -- was posted
to Milw0rm in September, months before Microsoft patched the issue.

IDG News Service

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