By Gregg Keizer October 13, 2009
Adobe issued a security update today that patched 29 vulnerabilities in its popular PDF viewing and editing applications, most of them bugs that attackers can use to grab control of personal computers. The update, Adobe's second since it announced that it would patch Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat quarterly -- and on the same day that Microsoft delivers its monthly security updates -- fixed one flaw that hackers have already been using in the wild. "These vulnerabilities could cause the application to crash and could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system," Adobe acknowledged in the advisory that accompanied the updates to versions 9.2, 8.1.7 and 7.1.4 of both Reader and Acrobat. "Updates apply to all platforms: Windows, Macintosh and UNIX," the advisory added. Adobe tagged 13 of the 29 bugs with the phrase "could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution," security-speak for vulnerabilities that could be exploited to hijack a system. Like Apple, but unlike Microsoft, Oracle and other large software vendors, Adobe does not apply a rating system to the flaws it fixes.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Microsoft Fixes 34 Bugs In Record 13-Patch Update
By Stefanie Hoffman, Oct. 13, 2009
Microsoft released a record patch for its Patch Tuesday release, fixing 34 vulnerabilities in 13 updates, including two zero-day flaws in its Server Message Block protocol and FTP Service, which opens the door for hackers to launch malicious attacks on users' PCs. Altogether, eight of the 13 patches repaired critical errors in every version of Windows and Internet Explorer, including critical bugs in the SMB and one deemed "important" in the Microsoft FTP Service, which allows hackers to attack vulnerable systems remotely with malicious code, typically to steal information. The patches address a total of 34 vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Office, SQL Server, Microsoft Forefront, Silverlight and Microsoft Developer Tools, as well as third-party ActiveX components, among others. One of the most significant patches repaired a total of three critical vulnerabilities -- including a zero-day flaw -- in the SMB version 2 implementation. SMB is the Microsoft file-sharing protocol, affecting Windows 7, Vista and Server 2008, as well as XP, 2000 and Server 2003.
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Microsoft released a record patch for its Patch Tuesday release, fixing 34 vulnerabilities in 13 updates, including two zero-day flaws in its Server Message Block protocol and FTP Service, which opens the door for hackers to launch malicious attacks on users' PCs. Altogether, eight of the 13 patches repaired critical errors in every version of Windows and Internet Explorer, including critical bugs in the SMB and one deemed "important" in the Microsoft FTP Service, which allows hackers to attack vulnerable systems remotely with malicious code, typically to steal information. The patches address a total of 34 vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Office, SQL Server, Microsoft Forefront, Silverlight and Microsoft Developer Tools, as well as third-party ActiveX components, among others. One of the most significant patches repaired a total of three critical vulnerabilities -- including a zero-day flaw -- in the SMB version 2 implementation. SMB is the Microsoft file-sharing protocol, affecting Windows 7, Vista and Server 2008, as well as XP, 2000 and Server 2003.
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Apple Acknowledges Snow Leopard Bug
By Antone Gonsalves October 13, 2009
Apple on Tuesday acknowledged a Snow Leopard flaw that users report can wipe out a significant amount of personal data. An Apple spokeswoman declined to provide details of the bug in the latest version of Mac OS X. However, Apple provided InformationWeek with a statement acknowledging that the problem exists. "We are aware of the issue that occurs in extremely rare cases, and we are working on a fix," the statement said. Apple offered no timetable on releasing a fix. According to Apple discussion forums, the problem is related to a change in the way Snow Leopard handles guest accounts. Users who upgrade from Leopard to Snow Leopard with guest account enabled have found that opening the guest account in Leopard can destroy personal data. "I accidentally clicked on my guest account and after I logged out, my documents folder was gone," one users said on the Snow Leopard forum. "Not only did Snow Leopard wipe out all of my documents, my email accounts, my address book, it broke the dynamic spell checker in Yahoo Messenger, caused random problems with Safari, InDesign, and others." How many users have been affected by the bug is not known. However, the flaw is the latest of many problems that have been reported since Apple released Snow Leopard, officially called Mac OS X v10.6, Aug. 28.
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Apple on Tuesday acknowledged a Snow Leopard flaw that users report can wipe out a significant amount of personal data. An Apple spokeswoman declined to provide details of the bug in the latest version of Mac OS X. However, Apple provided InformationWeek with a statement acknowledging that the problem exists. "We are aware of the issue that occurs in extremely rare cases, and we are working on a fix," the statement said. Apple offered no timetable on releasing a fix. According to Apple discussion forums, the problem is related to a change in the way Snow Leopard handles guest accounts. Users who upgrade from Leopard to Snow Leopard with guest account enabled have found that opening the guest account in Leopard can destroy personal data. "I accidentally clicked on my guest account and after I logged out, my documents folder was gone," one users said on the Snow Leopard forum. "Not only did Snow Leopard wipe out all of my documents, my email accounts, my address book, it broke the dynamic spell checker in Yahoo Messenger, caused random problems with Safari, InDesign, and others." How many users have been affected by the bug is not known. However, the flaw is the latest of many problems that have been reported since Apple released Snow Leopard, officially called Mac OS X v10.6, Aug. 28.
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Mac fanboys should get a life and some Windows 7 common sense
By Joe Wilcox October 13, 2009
I have to laugh at the sudden, slew of Mac bloggers taking swings at Windows 7 and asserting that Macs will continue to sell well after Microsoft's newest OS ships. Feeling a little defensive are we, bros? Their reaction shows worry that the thing they profess against -- surging PC sales that swamp Macs -- may yet be reality. Windows 7 is simply Microsoft's best operating system ever. Mac fanboys should worry and circle together in defensive posture. Collectively, they're making a last stand against the PC giant. Please, please, boisterous Mac defenders, stand in the front lines and receive the first blows. You deserve them. Mac market share actually means little to Microsoft, although it sure matters lots to Mac bloggers thumping for Apple. The little dog barks, but the big dog -- with its enormous market share -- has the bite. Windows 7 is a new set of teeth. (I'll explain what competitors really matter to Microsoft after the subhead.)
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I have to laugh at the sudden, slew of Mac bloggers taking swings at Windows 7 and asserting that Macs will continue to sell well after Microsoft's newest OS ships. Feeling a little defensive are we, bros? Their reaction shows worry that the thing they profess against -- surging PC sales that swamp Macs -- may yet be reality. Windows 7 is simply Microsoft's best operating system ever. Mac fanboys should worry and circle together in defensive posture. Collectively, they're making a last stand against the PC giant. Please, please, boisterous Mac defenders, stand in the front lines and receive the first blows. You deserve them. Mac market share actually means little to Microsoft, although it sure matters lots to Mac bloggers thumping for Apple. The little dog barks, but the big dog -- with its enormous market share -- has the bite. Windows 7 is a new set of teeth. (I'll explain what competitors really matter to Microsoft after the subhead.)
Read more here -->Link
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