Microsoft Pushes Out Security Fix For Malware Protection Engine

Microsoft pushed out an update to the Microsoft Malware

Protection Engine on Feb. 23. It was discovered by Cesar Cerrudo, CEO of

security research firm Argeniss, who publicly disclosed his Token Kidnapping

research at the Black Hat security conference in July 2010.

The Microsoft

Malware Protection Engine is used in various Microsoft security products,

including Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft Security Essentials, Windows

Defender, Forefront Client Security, Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 and the

Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool. Since these applications regularly

update themselves, users and administrators should get the fix automatically within

48 weeks or by the end of the weekend, according to the company.

With an “elevation of privilege” vulnerability, the bug

allowed attackers who already had access to the system to upgrade its user

permissions to gain administrative control, Microsoft said. While the company

hasn’t come across any active exploits taking advantage of the security hole,

the likelihood of the threat was high enough that Microsoft rated the patch

“important.”

“An attacker who successfully exploited this

vulnerability could execute arbitrary code… and take complete control of the

system,” Microsoft said in its security advisory. “An attacker could

then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts

with full user rights,” according to the advisory.

For more, read the eWeek article: Microsoft Patches High-Priority Bug in Malware Scanner.