Category: Windows Vista

Zero Day For IE7 Being used in the wild.

Paul

It looks like IE7 patches are being used right now in the wild.  According to TrendMicro:

HTML_DLOADER.AS exploits the CVE-2009-0075 vulnerability, which is already addressed by the MS09-002 security patch released last week. On an unpatched system though, successful exploitation by HTML_DLOADER.AS downloads a backdoor detected as BKDR_AGENT.XZMS.

How the IE7 Exploits are being used

[Image from TrendMicro Blog]

[ad#ad2-right]As you can see this this can be very bad for the companies who wait a while.  Internet Explorer is still being used 1 out of 4 users and I see it it all the time on my stats.   The Good news is this isn’t as hard to get rid as the Conflicker but should be taken serious because the writers might start to want to get even more malicious and make it even harder.

This is the next step to prevent yourself from getting caught with your pants down so to speak, you need to patch all systems that have internet access.  I still like the Autopatcher because it will do the job with very little input from the user.   It also makes it easier for people to patch big systems.  You should also consider installing some Free Anti-virus software to help protect the systems you do have.

From the looks of this virus, someone could easily make this into a botnet and you know how that can could affect your systems and your ISP.  So it is best to get this months patches on the floor of your company as soon as possible.

You should also consider telling your users to start using Firefox to prevent infection from even happening. Until you patch, you are vulnerable.

Not safe to download a worm : Project Snowblind

Paul

It looks like I missed this one yesterday. There seems to be a rogue and probably somewhat of a warez version of the game Project Snowblind.

[ad#ad2-right]ccording to Sophos:

Project: Snowblind is a multi-player first-person shooter (in the same genre as Doom) released by Eidos Interactive a few years ago.

A closer examination reveals that the installation program comes with a little nefarious piece of malware (detected by Sophos as W32/Rbot-GXL) that will drop a file called vghhost.exe. This file is actually a network worm as well as an IRC backdoor Trojan.

I must also tell people that if you want to download the demo, you can download it from the EIDO website and Download.com website. I will say I didn’t know about this one until Technibble, published something about this.  Some of the things he publishes are great for the IT Professionals who want to start their own businesses.

I also suggest the Computer Repair Utility Kit, It can be used on a USB and has some good programs that you can use in Computer repair.

Polymorphic w32/Scribble and what that is:

Paul

Having read the Graham Cluley’s Blog about “Court halted by fast-spreading virus“. I wanted to talk about this one because of the need to let people know about this little Virus and what you see when you are infected.

This virus modifies the Windows Host file so it redirects the host to a loopback address. It also uses the I-frame Injection into HTM, PHP or ASP file extensions. W32/Scribble-a, also known as Virus.Win32.Virut.ce, PE_VIRUX.A, or Virus:Win32/Virut.BM allows a users to control the machine through IRC.
[ad#ad2-right]

Although originally misidentified at the time of the initial infection on 4th February as the Conficker worm, the infection was ultimately declared by officials to be “W32/Virut.n” (which Sophos has detected as the W32/Scribble-A virus since 3rd February).

[Via Graham Cluley’s Blog]

Sopho’s Has a removal tool for this to help disinfect a system that is infected. I also want to remind people about the need for backups and the need for Anti-virus Software, including a free firewall, will not protect you 100% of the time but will help you identify and possibliy remove a virus, Trojan, and worm from you system. Just like the seriousness of the Conflicker Worm, this too should be taken seriously due to how it is easily spreading. And with Valentines Day just a few days and some Other Holidays that will be coming up, you can bet this virus will start infecting even more systems. You should also backup your data weekly if not monthly. I’d suggest doing a backup on a Early Sunday Morning before 4am so the system won’t be used.  I’ll update you if there is anything else about this virus on my blog later.  Just wanted to let people know to be watching for this little virus on and offline!!

Patch Release information Feb 10, 2009

Paul

I just got the patches that were sent down from Microsoft., Here’s what I do know:

Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista (KB960544)

Download size: 12.0 MB
You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.
Update type: Recommended

[ad#ad2-right]Install this update to resolve issues with Media Center for Windows Vista. For complete list of the issues that are included in this cumulative update, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 960544.  After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=137169

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Vista (KB961260)

(CVE-2009-075, and CVE-2009-076)Download size: 7.9 MB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Important

[ad#ad2-right]Security issues have been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Microsoft Internet Explorer and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=139814

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

Update Rollup for ActiveX Killbits for Windows Vista (KB960715)

Download size: 44 KB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Important

[ad#robo-right-120×90]Security issues have been identified in ActiveX controls that could allow an attacker to compromise a system running Microsoft Internet Explorer and gain control over it. You can help protect your system by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=139076

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com
MS09-004: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft SQL Server could allow remote code execution
(KB959420) (MS09-004)
(CVE-2008-5416)(Exploit code publicly available since December 2008)

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if untrusted users access an affected system or if a SQL injection attack occurs to an affected system. Systems with SQL Server 7.0 Service Pack 4, SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3, and SQL Server 2008 are not affected by this issue.

MS09-003: Vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange could allow remote code execution
(KB959239)(MS09-003)

(CVE-2009-0098 CVE-2009-0099)

This security update resolves two privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server. The first vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a specially crafted TNEF message is sent to a Microsoft Exchange Server. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of the affected system with Exchange Server service account privileges. The second vulnerability could allow denial of service if a specially crafted MAPI command is sent to a Microsoft Exchange Server. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could cause the Microsoft Exchange System Attendant service and other services that use the EMSMDB32 provider to stop responding.

Each One of these Updates is either important or recommended.  As you can see on all of them it is time to load up Clone of Autopatcher and start downloading these patches.  If you start now you should be able to keep the bad guys away this weekend.  I just loaded it up and it downloaded all the new patches rather quickly.

Now on to the good stuff, As you can see each of these are important to patch your system and each of these patches need to be installed before someone makes a worm or virus to compromise systems.  I can just see people sending out fake emails that would compromise the Media Center trying to install some  Malware.  I can also see people trying to use the IE Vulnerability also, and the Active X.  These should be taken serious and installed before the week is over.  Some other things to consider is having a good Anti-virus and Firewall setup to prevent infection in the first place.  It’s up to us IT guys to keep the employees from doing something they shouldn’t.  Only you can prevent a Virus infection. (I’ll update when more information is available for a week)

Internet Security Companies Warn about Patch Tuesday and Valentines Day.

Paul

With Tomorrow being released some very highly rated Remote Code Execution to become Zero day in very short time. Some researchers are speculating about more viruses will be released in conjunction to Valentines day. According to this one post it will be likely to be E-cards being sent to try to lure you into downloading Malware.
[ad#ad2-right]

Various security vendors, including CA Inc, MX Logic Inc., Trend Micro Inc., and Panda Security, have issued alerts about new Valentine’s Day-themed spam campaigns that try to dupe users into installing the Waledec bot.

Researchers note that many websites which are affiliated to Waledac e-card scam have been recently updated with content based on the Valentine’s Day theme.

Web sites distribute Trojan files which are commonly named love.exe; onlyyou.exe; you.exe; youandme.exe; and meandyou.exe and the list is not exhaustive.
[Via Express Buzz]

So which ones will likely be the exploits they will use? I have a few theories on that and One of them is the INTERNET EXPLORER vulnerability that will be patched and will try to get you to launch the link and will most likely try to launch it in Internet explorer, That would be my guess.    It seems to be Internet Explorer 7 and Below which will be patched so if you want to try out the IE 8 Beta,  You should be safe on that.  Although the best bet is to prevent users from clicking links in emails and also warning them not to open any attachments they are not expecting.    I’d also have the AutoPatcher ready to install the lastest patches for this Tuesday and schedule a time this week to update all the possible systems involved with the Databases.  Although this isn’t one that tries to steal your data it is however a chance the writers to look at what you have and you know how that can be call a data breach.   So if your the IT for the department I’d suggest sending out warnings so they can keep from being caught with their pants down.   I’d also suggest having Anti-Virus and free Firewall installed on all the major systems and it wouldn’t hurt to have the installed on minor systems if at all possible.