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MS Excel exploit on auction

Posted by Hemos on from the brave-new-world dept.

geo_2677 writes "Someone had put up for auction on eBay the details of an exploit in Microsoft Excel according to a recent article on Securityfocus. According to the article Microsoft has confirmed that this vulnerability exists, but in the meantime the original listing on eBay has been pulled. " The now pulled auction, but it does appear that Microsoft has confirmed the vulnerability in an eweek article.

15 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Re:More information and a few questions: by generic-man · · Score: 5, Funny

    The seller violated eBay's policy of Don't Fuck With Microsoft.

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    For more information, click here.
  2. Heh... by the_skywise · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now THAT'S capitalism!

    (Or at least a good demonstration of Ferengi behavior...)

    1. Re:Heh... by Oliver+Wendell+Jones · · Score: 3, Funny

      Ferengi rule of aquisition #193:
      If you're not a part of the solution, there's good money to be made in prolonging the problem.

      --
      A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing -- Emo Phillips
  3. You can buy anything on Ebay by ATeamMrT · · Score: 4, Funny
    Someone had put up for auction on eBay the details of an exploit in Microsoft Excel

    I'll buy that one as soon as I buy the product which tells me how to remove all spyware by formatting my hard drive. It's only $7.95, and he sends the PDF file as soon as payment is recieved. Now if only I knew how to open a PDF file. :(

    Maybe I'll search ebay, and someone can sell me a product which tells me how to open a PDF file. :) :)

    But first, I need to bid on this guy who claims he can teach me how to get Plasma TV's for free from the manufacturers. He says in his ebay auction that manufacturers don't have enough people to test their product and they want me to help them!

    Ebay is more good than bad, but how can these people sell garbage?

    If the guy is selling information on how to exploit software, doesn't that violate the DCMA?

    I guess I should not complain. Ebay is the only place I know of that has everything, the worlds largest flea market.

    1. Re:You can buy anything on Ebay by eldavojohn · · Score: 2, Funny
      Ebay is the only place I know of that has everything, the worlds largest flea market.


      You know, you're right. But I remember when I was a wee little nooblet, a lil' bastard at the computer (maybe 15 years old) and I would find endless amounts of entertainment at the number of channels on mIRC.

      And some of these channels would have "hackorz" and/or "warez" in the titles. Now, I'm not sure what the 'z' meant but they sure the hell were interesting channels.

      A particular channel, you could go in and say something like "www.englishstrumpets.com $5, paypal." And a few minutes later, someone with ops would say "englishstrumpets cracked, i_am_a_hackor@hotmail.com" and you would pay the five dollars to his paypal account and he would private message you the info to get into the site. Seeing as I didn't have a credit card, paypal account or any money, all I would do is list impossible sites to hack until I was booted. Ahhh, the days of little lil' bastardry, how I miss them.

      Anyways, this article reminded me of those forgotten channels.
      --
      My work here is dung.
    2. Re:You can buy anything on Ebay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      The Digital Millenium Copyright Act, of course. It's French, hence Digitale Copitarrif du Millenie Act.

    3. Re:You can buy anything on Ebay by IIH · · Score: 2, Funny

      Including a picture of an XBox 360, sold for the princly sum of £470, according to an article in the register.

      --
      Exigo spamos et dona ferentes
  4. Re:More information and a few questions: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    rebate for MS was offered, auction-password would be "LINUXRULZ".. talk about adding insult to injury :)

  5. Microsoft cannot handle the competition by erroneus · · Score: 3, Funny

    People are already paying for vulnerabilities in Microsoft software. They get them as part of the purchase of software licenses. (Now, having actual KNOWLEDGE of such vulnerabilities is another matter I suppose...)

  6. I'll save ya tha money... by FlopEJoe · · Score: 1, Funny

    The exploit is: Press Alt-F4, click the "No" button if it asks if you want to save. Dude... everything they had in the sheet will be gone!!! Is that 133t or what?

  7. The funniest part... by krbvroc1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    From the auction: Microsoft representatives get 10% off the final price. To qualify, you MUST provide @microsoft.com e-mail address and MUST mention discount code LINUXRULZ during checkout

  8. OT: Ebay terms and conditions by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 3, Funny

    I was reading through ebay T&C, because the article made me curious.

    I, for one, am very disappointed that I cannot list a prohibited country for sale:

  9. Re:Bad auction by timeOday · · Score: 2, Funny
    Looking at the motivation this guy has, I can't really see how it can be good.
    What? Are you implying that greed is not always good? It's elementary Econ. 101: he has the supply, and spammers have the demand. Were he not to unleash this vulnerability on all of us, he'd be violating his sacred fiduciary responsibility to maximize shareholder value. Besides, he and the buyer are both consenting adults, what right do we have to interfere with their freedom? Don't you think the invisible hand will solve this issue for us?
  10. WAAAYYY overpriced by SHP · · Score: 3, Funny

    I thought M$ bugs were a dime a dozen.

    -SHP

  11. Re:More information and a few questions: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Come on, vulerabilities coming from Microsoft are a dime a dozen. $0.10 / 12 is less than $0.01, so he was actually starting the bidding high.