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.
