Symantec warns of new Word attack

**Glaswegian** · 07-09-2008, 12:38 PM

Criminals are exploiting a new bug in Microsoft Word according to security company Symantec.

The company posted a warning on its website that it had seen attackers using "what is possibly an undisclosed vulnerability affecting Microsoft Word."

The security vendor released few details of the attack, saying that it is still working with Microsoft to confirm its findings. "Initial analysis suggests that some Microsoft Office versions, even when fully patched, are affected by this exploit," Symantec said.

There have been a large number of bugs found in Microsoft's Office software, including Word, over the past few years. In order to exploit these flaws, attackers must typically trick the victim into opening a maliciously encoded Office document, which then allows them to install malicious software on the PC.

http://www.techworld.com/security/ne...&NewsID=102109

07-09-2008, 12:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 21,371 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 10	Symantec warns of new Word attack Criminals are exploiting a new bug in Microsoft Word according to security company Symantec. The company posted a warning on its website that it had seen attackers using "what is possibly an undisclosed vulnerability affecting Microsoft Word." The security vendor released few details of the attack, saying that it is still working with Microsoft to confirm its findings. "Initial analysis suggests that some Microsoft Office versions, even when fully patched, are affected by this exploit," Symantec said. There have been a large number of bugs found in Microsoft's Office software, including Word, over the past few years. In order to exploit these flaws, attackers must typically trick the victim into opening a maliciously encoded Office document, which then allows them to install malicious software on the PC. http://www.techworld.com/security/ne...&NewsID=102109 __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. Ad-Aware::SpywareBlaster::SpyBot::SpywareGuard::SnoopFree::AVG Free::HOSTS File::HijackThis::Donate::5 Steps For Infected PCs