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New threat to internet security
12/09/2003 07:10 - (SA)
Washington - The US government's cybersecurity arm warned that the internet could come under attack from a new virus similar to last month's damaging Blaster worm in the wake of a new Windows flaw revealed by Microsoft.
In an advisory late on Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity division warned of a "potential for (a) significant impact on internet operations" as a result of the vulnerability disclosed by the software maker.
Microsoft earlier announced the so-called "critical" security problem, similar to one revealed last month that allowed the Blaster worm to spread, affecting most versions of Windows in current use.
The flaw "could allow an attacker to remotely compromise a computer running Microsoft Windows and gain complete control over it".
Microsoft urged computer users to install an update or "patch" that would correct the problem. The company said it was not aware of any virus or worms aimed at exploiting the flaw.
But based on prior experience, many experts predicted that a virus or "exploit" would be circulated on the internet. Depending on the way the virus is written and how it is spread, it could slow computer networks and internet traffic.
The Department of Homeland Security said it "believes that exploits are being developed" and could spread rapidly because the overwhelming majority of personal computers use the Windows operating system.
"DHS is concerned that a properly written exploit could rapidly spread on the internet as a worm or virus in a fashion similar to the Blaster Worm," the advisory said.
The tech security firm Symantec said that because the new flaw is similar to the one uncovered in July, it believes that "active exploitation and creation of internet worms targeting this vulnerability is imminent".
The flaw affects Windows NT version 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
- AFP
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