- 1
- 2
- < previous
Eric Schultze, chief technology officer of Shavlik Technologies, picked a different Microsoft update to tout Tuesday. He focused on MS08-038, a bulletin that outlined a remote code vulnerability in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 that involves the saved search feature and its associated file format in those operating systems.
"I say that one only because it's entirely unclear if browsing to a malicious site can [trigger the vulnerability] or if the user has to save and then open a [malicious] saved search file," Schultze said. "Given that it's so unclear, I'd patch that one first."
Microsoft also issued MS08-039 and MS08-040 Tuesday, the former a two-patch update to Exchange 2003 and 2007, the latter a four-patch update for Microsoft's SQL Server software, including the database components bundled with Windows.
"Both are important to patch as soon as possible," said Storms, "not so much because of the attack methods or the risk they may present to the organization, but the high importance of e-mail and databases in the enterprise, and the high administrative duty in patching and testing."
Because Exchange and SQL Server are critical components in corporations relying on Microsoft's software, IT staff must take caution in making any changes, said Storms. "There's a lot of overhead risk," he said. "Anytime you introduce a change, there's a risk of it breaking something else. So these updates heighten the overhead risk and administrative cost, because you're talking about e-mail and databases."
Another factor that should be considered, Storms continued, is the widespread use of SQL injection attacks by hackers to compromise sites and turn them into malware-spreading domains. The four fixes in MS08-040 don't address flaws that attackers have used to hack sites -- Microsoft has been adamant that SQL injection attacks succeed because of poorly-coded ASP code, not vulnerabilities in SQL Server itself -- but could, Storms argued, be dissected by hackers and used in conjunction with injection attacks.
July's security updates can be downloaded and installed via the Microsoft Update and Windows Update services, as well as through Windows Server Update Services.
- 1
- 2
- < previous
Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services. Still Sneaking In: The Threats Your Security Tools Aren't Telling You About
Dude! You Say I Need an Application-Layer Firewall?!
Achieving the impossible: Unlimited application scalability
Australian Unity minimizes costs and maximizes productivity with single sign-on for 1,400 users
Everything you need to know about email and web security (but were afraid to ask)
Discover the advantages of an open architecture multi-vendor network solution
Refresh your AUP: Top tips to ensure your acceptable use policy is fit for purpose
BT saves more than £15 million and improves customer services with comprehensive Identity & Access Management
Zones provide focussed content from Computerworld and leading technology partners.
Security Management
Protect your critical IT assets, achieve sustainable regulatory compliance, reduce IT administration costs and enable new business opportunities with our IT security solutions.
IT Security as a business enabler?
Download Whitepaper
|
Success Stories
Australian Unity minimises costs and maximises productivity with single sign-on for 1,400 users
Australian Unity needed to address its business and security risks including user management and application security management. The company chose an enterprise single sign-on (ESSO) solution and discovered increased employee productivity, reduced help desk costs and elevated data protection.
Download the full Success Story
BT saves more than £15 million and improves customer services with comprehensive Identity & Access Management
To enable future growth and ensure its services remain competitive, BT needed to build closer relationships with its customers and suppliers. Discover how the company is now performing over 36 million transactions a day with their improved Identity & Access Management Solution.
Download the full Success Story
Identity & Access Management
Simplify and Secure: Managing User Identities Throughout their Lifecycles
Organisations are constantly challenged to keep pace with ongoing changes to users and their roles, responsibilities and requirements. Discover how CA can help you create a unified approach for managing users identities, providing them with timely and appropriate access to applications and information.
Download Whitepaper
Simplify, Integrate and Safeguard Your Business with Secure Web Business Enablement
Modern organisations are required to aggressively expand the number and type of Web applications and services provided to customers, partners and employees. Discover how to automate, delegate and centralise your key processes and services including user administration, access policies, auditing and compliance by reading on.
Download Whitepaper
Simplify, Integrate and Secure: Providing Secure Access to Server-based Information and Resources Across Platforms
Distributed servers are a powerful asset in any company’s infrastructure. Over time, most organisations have acquired a variety of different platforms and are relying on them to house an increased amount of critical applications, processes and data. Read on to discover how you can achieve a consistently higher level of server access security across multiple platforms including virtual hosts and guest operating systems.
Download Whitepaper
Buying Guides
