Microsoft is investigating a vulnerability in the Windows operating system that could cause many applications to freeze.
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| Source: Briancmitt |
This vulnerability (if confirmed) affects both Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. If users are tricked into clicking on a malicious link, this vulnerability could cause several programs, including the Internet Explorer browser, to freeze.
According to a warning from the security company Secunia, which was the first to discover the issue, this vulnerability may also allow hackers to execute malicious code on vulnerable computers.
However, as there is currently no evidence to support this claim, the main risk remains a denial-of-service (DoS) attack on applications running on Windows XP. Based on Secunia’s rating scale, the vulnerability is categorized as “less critical,” meaning it is not highly severe.
A representative from Microsoft stated that the company is investigating the matter and, as of now, has not received any information regarding attempts to exploit the vulnerability. Once the investigation is complete, Microsoft will issue a user advisory or a patch if the vulnerability is found to be genuinely dangerous.
Also awaiting a response from Microsoft is a serious vulnerability in Word software. There has already been at least one online attack exploiting this vulnerability, and Microsoft has announced that a patch will be released in a security update by the end of this month.
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