Slashdot Mirror


Microsoft Flubs Patch, Putting Users At Risk

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft is rushing to fix a flaw introduced by the company's latest security update to Internet Explorer. From the article: 'The flaw, initially thought to only crash Internet Explorer, actually allows an attacker to run code on computers running Windows 2000 and Windows XP Service Pack 1 that have applied the August cumulative update to Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1, security firm eEye Digital Security asserted. The update, released on August 8, fixed eight security holes but also introduced a bug of its own, according to Marc Maiffret, chief hacking officer for the security firm, which notified Microsoft last week that the issue is exploitable.'"

28 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. When are we going to move these off the front page by hcob$ · · Score: 5, Funny

    the MS has a security hole post has now become, trite, cliche, and dare I say it.... (-1, Redundant)

    --
    Cliff Claven
    K.E.G. Party Chairman
    Founding Leader of: Koncerned for Egalitarin Governance
  2. no need to worry. by krell · · Score: 5, Funny

    As long as, over the course of a year, the number of security holes plugged by the patches manages to outnumber the number of security holes introduced by these same patches, we're in real good shape right?

    --
    Where were you when the voynix came?
  3. Clearly, the fix is by Weaselmancer · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...to switch to Vista. That way, this sort of thing will never happen again. You betcha.

    --
    Weaselmancer
    rediculous.
  4. wtf? by User+956 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The update, released on August 8, fixed eight security holes but also introduced a bug of its own, according to Marc Maiffret, chief hacking officer for the security firm, which notified Microsoft last week that the issue is exploitable.

    Chief Hacking Officer? I wasn't aware companies had those these days.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    1. Re:wtf? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 5, Funny

      Chief Hacking Officer? I wasn't aware companies had those these days.

      This is what happens when employees pick their own titles. I used to work with the "grand poobah of software development" at a former company. It was on his business cards. An IBM guy snorted soda through his nose when he read it.

  5. Closed source strikes again by MarkByers · · Score: 4, Funny

    Haha! This sort of thing would never happen if you used Ubuntu!

    --
    I'll probably be modded down for this...
    1. Re:Closed source strikes again by baadger · · Score: 5, Informative

      The difference is the Ubuntu slip up was fixed within hours, the Microsoft slip up ..is still counting...

  6. will it cause problems? by joe+155 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    whilst this is no doubt a bit of a "d'oh" moment for MS I doubt it will be a serious problem for anyone. * For this to have any affect on you you need to have SP1 but have the latest update of security for IE 6, surely if anyone updated regularly and applied security updates they'd be using SP2 anyway...

    *If I'm wrong correct me, not being a windows user it's hard to remember what service pack is current

    --
    *''I can't believe it's not a hyperlink.''
    1. Re:will it cause problems? by baadger · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Not necessarily, my aunt is on dialup and until recently she'd been patching herself up on SP1 because downloading a 290MB service pack just wasn't feasible. The monthly updates themselves can sometimes be big of a download.

      I recently did a full reinstall of her system (at my place on cable) from a MS cd (managing to maintain her OEM activation), SP2, Firefox, Opera and IE7-beta3 and she's been good for ages now.

      The annoying thing is, even on dialup with sparse on-off connectivity and surfing it's remarkeably easy to get infected. Don't underestimate the number of people who *CAN'T* keep upto date.

    2. Re:will it cause problems? by Jamil+Karim · · Score: 3, Informative

      Due to some programs not functioning correctly with SP2, our department was explicitly told NOT to update to SP2. However, we've been applying all of the other patches that have come out. So, the scenario is more likely than you'd think. Microsoft even has a list of programs that don't work as intended under SP2.

  7. Some systems affected here by lpangelrob · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Some clients accessing systems at the Chicago Board of Trade were rendered useless by this bug; the flaw essentially resulted in a crash on login. Didn't know until today that it was exploitable, though.

    The solution for us was simple: install Firefox on affected clients. Problem solved, users happy.

  8. Why This is Different by Aqua_boy17 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes, but this is a hole created by a patch to fix a hole. On the whole, different and somewhat amusing. Or it would be amusing if I didn't have to administer Windows systems. :P

    --
    What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?
    1. Re:Why This is Different by just_another_sean · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Or it would be amusing if I didn't have to administer Windows systems. :P

      And that is exactly why I like to see it on the front page of /.

      Of course I don't rely on /. alone for security news but as an Admin supporting MS products news like this does matter to me. The more sources of info I can get on problems with software the better. And being the /. junkie I am it is likely I may just get info on new flaws here first! :-)

      --
      Creationist Textbook Stickers Declared Unconstitutional by CowboyNeal
  9. Just Please... by moehoward · · Score: 5, Informative


    Please don't automatically reboot my machines again when the patch's patch is installed. I have the custom options in MS Update to allow me to control install/reboot for the updates. Well, it ignored that this week and rebooted 2 of my machines for me.

    Then, I noticed that The Register had a couple of articles this week about the same thing happening to others.

    Just who in the hell does MS think they are?

    Oh, and if the patch's patch's patch needs a reboot as well, don't do that too.

    Oh, and if.... nevermind.

    --
    "If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus
    1. Re:Just Please... by Randseed · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Please don't automatically reboot my machines again when the patch's patch is installed. I have the custom options in MS Update to allow me to control install/reboot for the updates. Well, it ignored that this week and rebooted 2 of my machines for me.

      Then, I noticed that The Register had a couple of articles this week about the same thing happening to others.

      Just who in the hell does MS think they are?

      That's precisely the problem. I, and I assume countless other users, have the automatic update installation turned off because every damned time I go to install an update, I have to reboot the machine, and it annoys the hell out of me, FUBARing applications by stealing focus (or worse, not and not allowing me to abort it) until I do. On the machines that are up for weeks at a time, that means that the updates get installed in batches, not immediately, which is precisely what Microsoft seems to be trying to avoid. the key for Microsoft is going to be coming up with the ability to install updates without forcing a reboot. Then, and only then, will they have a very high level of compliance among systems that truly matter. (i.e., not Bob's dialup machine, but Steve's server he has hanging out on a DSL line 24/7/365).

  10. Do you ever get that feeling... by T_ConX · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do you ever get the feeling that IE6 is like a cartoon characters hole-riddled row-boat?

    The cartoon character (lets just say it's Elmer Fudd) tries to plug a leak with his thumb, only to have another pop open on the other end of the boat. He stretchs over there to plug it with his other hand. A third appears, and he has to use his toe. Eventually, the number of leaks outnumbers the number of limbs (Or at least, the number of limbs one is allowed to show on TV. *wink* *wink*), and the boat finally goes down. A Fox riding in a Motorboat then speeds by...

  11. Get rid of fixed patch date by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    likey they rushed this patch to get it ready for the patch day and they did not fully test it. M$ will be better off with put the updates out when they are done not on a fixed time table.

  12. snakes! by ssrs396 · · Score: 5, Funny

    My computer is full of snakes!

  13. Re:To all Slashdot trolls by neonprimetime · · Score: 4, Funny

    Microsoft's idea of testing patches

    1.) Perform Windows update
    2.) Wait for system to reboot
    3.) If system turns back on successfully after reboot, release!

  14. *YAWN* by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Wake me up when there is a security risk that doesn't need to go through IE.

  15. Re:So, does this mean... by Linker3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, Microsoft will start a new initiative called the Genuine Double Patch Advantage (GDPA)

    --
    AT&ROFLMAO
  16. New Windows Feature by bblboy54 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I really don't understand why Microsoft doesnt just use their marketing power and explain how executing code from another machine is actually a feature. There is really no need to purchase applications such as pcAnywhere. Thank God for Microsoft saving us all that money!

  17. Disable HTTP 1.1 by planckscale · · Score: 3, Informative
    I had a Win2K box on our network who's Internet Explorer kept crashing when she visited websites with lots of stuff going on (Java and Flash). I read around and found a work-around from Microsoft. The workaround involved going into IE Options and unchecking "HTTP 1.1" MS Article ID: 923762:

    Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 unexpectedly exits after you install the 918899 update

    Additionally they go on to say in this article: A new version of security update 918899 is currently in development and will be released to all Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 customers by August 22, 2006.

    This patch was NOT released today - they LIED! :-) Since that change, the crashes stopped at least but now that this is out I have much move incentive to upgrade our last few W2K machines up to WinXPSP2.

    --
    Namaste
    1. Re:Disable HTTP 1.1 by pe1chl · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Also note that the patch mentioned in KB923762, which is available only by calling Microsoft and explicitly asking for it, was compiled on August 4th!

      So, they KNEW about this problem at the time they sent out 918899 to the world via Windows Update!
      They already had the fix available, but they chose to neither include it in 918899 nor to withhold 918899 from release on August 8th.

      It caused some damage at work. We had to ask for the KB923762 fix, which took 3 days to get (because we buy computers with Windows installed, so we cannot call Microsoft but have to go via Dell).
      IMHO it is gross neglect by Microsoft to knowingly release a defective update for which a better version already is available.

  18. Switch to battery by nstenz · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If you unplug the power cord and make the laptop go to battery power, it will give up applying the rest of the updates. You'll then have to apply them the next day when you shut down.

    I did that for about a week until I actually had enough time to sit there and watch it finish installing updates and shut down.

  19. But VISTA is Coming... by BoRegardless · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And Bill Gates has said this new OS is going to be the whing dinger of all time.

    Meaning, the number of serious holes is going to be astonishing, because they are so sophisticated and well hidden that only the best hackers can find and exploit them without users and IT admins finding them.

    Aaaaak

  20. Forced Reboot = BAD by Valacosa · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Here's an example for you:
    I was once running an experiment for a prof. The computer controlling the experiment has a GPIB card, which is controlling several other devices in the room (PID temperature controller, Lock in amp, yada yada yada.) The software running the experiment was written in LabVIEW.

    I'm in the middle of a nine-hour experiment when this dialog box pops up. "Your computer will restart in 5 minutes to apply updates."

    Now, let's review. What have I done wrong?
    • This isn't a server
    • AFAIK there is no "LabVIEW" for Linux. I could have written all the GPIB software in C but then no one else would have the expertise to change it, plus getting the card to work in linux would probably be hell
    • I'm not using IE
    • Windows update is on? Oh, that's what I'm doing wrong.
    Luckily my software is much better written, so I was able to discontinue and resume the experiment wihtout losing data. But still, is this the kind of OS that is intended for a production environment? "Who the hell do they think they are" indeed.
    --
    "Live as if you'll die tomorrow." Ridiculous. You could die later today.
  21. Re:I will not criticize this by gelfling · · Score: 3, Insightful

    See what I mean. All Hail the 'Soft.