Microsoft to Issue Emergency Patch For File-Sharing Hole 348
An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft said late Wednesday that it plans to release a critical security update today to plug a security hole present in all supported versions of Windows. The company hasn't released any details about the patch yet, which is expected to be pushed out at 1 p.m. PT. Normally, Redmond issues security updates on Patch Tuesday, the second Tuesday of each month. The Washington Post's Security Fix blog notes that each of the three times in the past that Microsoft has departed from its patch cycle, it was to fix some really nasty vulnerability that criminals already were exploiting to break into Windows PCs."
Reader filenavigator points out an article which describes the hole as an SMB vulnerability, and says it "allows anyone to access a Windows machine remotely without any user name or password. Any machine that exposes Windows file sharing is vulnerable." Update: 10/23 17:42 GMT by T : Reader AngryDad adds a link to Microsoft's more detailed memo.
This is why... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This is why... (Score:1, Funny)
If you don't use computers, how did you post on /.?
Let's hope (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Cool (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe.. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:This is why... (Score:5, Funny)
Damn Fossies (Score:3, Funny)
Those damn FOSSies can gain access to SMB shares
Quick, patch it....
Re:This is why... (Score:4, Funny)
Who are you replying to?
Re:This is why... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:This is why... (Score:5, Funny)
Simple: Call up your ISP and make the correct noises. Real men don't use modems.
Samba Interoperability? (Score:3, Funny)
Why patch? Looks like they went a long way to achieve this [slashdot.org] already!
Does this mean . . . (Score:4, Funny)
Re:FREEOWW!!! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:This is why... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This is why... (Score:5, Funny)
Simple: Call up your ISP and make the correct noises. Real men don't use modems.
Whistling in to a phone?! REAL men use butterflies [xkcd.com].
Re:This is why... (Score:3, Funny)
If you don't use computers, how did you post on /.?
Maybe he was dictating his response to someone who does have aaaaaaaaa...
Re:Critical vs Important (Score:5, Funny)
Known about this for years (Score:3, Funny)
My friends and I have known about this hole since high school. Every version of Windows with SMB has underlying, invisible, "root" accounts which cannot be removed without a great deal of diligence. These accounts have no password and give full access to the SMB share. I'm shocked that it has taken Microsoft this long to address the issue.
Re:Known about this for years (Score:2, Funny)
Buffer underrun permitting arbitrary code execution != "invisble root account"
You don't know what you're talking about.
Re:FREEOWW!!! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This is why... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Cool (Score:3, Funny)
In Soviet college, files serve you?
Someone always clicks "allow". (Score:5, Funny)
Because on Vista you get a prompt: "Your computer is being hacked. Cancel or Allow?"
Re:This is why... (Score:3, Funny)
No, you got the joke wrong. The correct line is:
First, he asks his secretary to print the Internet. Then, the secretary prints a bunch of random crap pages. Then, he types up a response on his Underwood No. 5 and sends it to her through a pneumatic tube. Then, the secretary rekeys the information in and sends a printed copy to him via a pneumatic tube for approval, which he then initials and sends back through the tube. Upon receipt of the initialed printed copy, she initials the electronic copy and clicks "submit".
Re:Samba Interoperability? (Score:2, Funny)
I agree!
Every time that a new software bug or vulnerability is uncovered, I feel better and better about my choice to stick with an abacus instead of using these computer things.
Yes, it would be convenient to have it in my home or office, but you never know when some giant glaring exploit is going to appear and leave you open to pwnage due to some software company drinking a cold frosty can of fail.
Days like this justify my paranoia.
Or maybe ... (Score:5, Funny)
Samba Guy: Hey dude, look, when I open a connection _this way_ I get strange replies. There is nothing similar in the docs
MS Interoperability Officer Sir, the protocol is just to complex. I wouldn't care. How about putting little hears into the password dialog, I don't like the asterisks, anyway.
Samba Guy: Dude, come on, I want to understand how the stuff works...
MS Interoperability Officer: Sir, hmm, must be part a proprietary, essential, internal routine framework. It's in there since ages. The software works, we make billions from it.
Samba Guy: But what does it do? Why do you need it?
MS Interoperability Officer: Don't know. The guy who coded it left the company.
Samba Guy: Can't we just call him?
MS Interoperability Officer: Don't think so. He must be cleaning his Yacht somewhere near Tanzania right now.
Samba Guy: Well dude, then let's see what's gonna happen if I keep going on...
MS Interoperability Officer: Sir, I'm bored. I don't like your black console anyway. It feels so 50ths.
MS Interoperability Officer: Sir, I'm in the position to offer you a free trial for Microsoft Visual Studio 2009 with Ribbon TM included.
Samba Guy: Look dude, I just got root on your machine.
MS Interoperability Officer: Sir, which idiot gave you my password?
Samba Guy: No password, dude. I just opened the connection, look here
Samba Guy show 4 lines of code.
MS Interoperability Officer: Sir, please hold on, I need to call my chief security officer.
MS Interoperability Officer talking on the phone (next door).
Minutes later the door is opened violently. Gates and Balmer enter the scene guarded by five NSA officers.
Gates: Sir, I'm sorry, you found one of the many backdoors we built into all versions of Microsoft Windows TM released after 1999. I suppose you will perfectly understand that all algorithms concerning that matter is our intellectual property which is protected by American Law.
NSA Officer (in monotone voice): Sir, I'll now use this Neutralizer TM device to erase your memories of the last twenty-four hours. You've never been in this building and you never knew about the federal data acquisition program.
A bright flash of light gets emitted from the little device.
Samba Guy: Shit, my eyes. What the fuck is wrong with you guys. That code is so freaking stupid. You can't be serious...
Another NSA Officer (in aggressive voice): Shut up criminal bastard!
First NSA Officer (in same monotone voice): Sir, you might have consumed a critical cumulative dose of THC during adolescence. The resulting altered brain circuity is resistant to portable neutralizer devices. I'm sorry to inform you're temporally arrested under federal law.
Samba Guy: Bull shit, you have no idea what you're talking about. Look I've got a hock running that sends every command I type on the console directly to twitter. Everybody does it, it's lot's of fun. Nothing I do is secret. I believe in sharing of ideas.
Ballmer (in rage): Motherfucking communists
Ballmer, well, throws chairs.
Gates (calling the still governing president of the United States): My president, sir, I'm sorry to inform you, due to certain circumstances, details concerning the federal data acquisition program might just have been leaked to the public.
Samba Guy: Hey dude, the story is already on digg. I think you should issue a patch before it is on slashdot.
Curtain gets drawn, applause.
Off stage voice: Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Please don't forget to visit windowsupdates.microsoft.com
Re:This is why... (Score:3, Funny)
This is slashdot! If he's capable of listening, he would have gotten a girlfriend, and would have a real life instead, but here he is, posting on slashdot, so, obviously he is not capable of listening.
Re:Samba Interoperability? (Score:3, Funny)
I agree!
Every time that a new software bug or vulnerability is uncovered, I feel better and better about my choice to stick with an my fingers and toes instead of using these computer things(20 bits ought to be enough for anyone).
Yes, it would be convenient to have it in my home or office, but you never know when some giant glaring exploit is going to appear and leave you open to pwnage due to some software company drinking a cold frosty can of fail.
Days like this justify my paranoia.
Re:This is why... (Score:3, Funny)
You can even get DSL if you have a good enough falsetto.
This is going to be a field day for the RIAA... (Score:4, Funny)
... and their "making available" theory. They could soon be raking in $Trillions in statutory damages from the public.
Re:Critical vs Important (Score:3, Funny)
I find it amusing that we geeks can be so anal retentive about redundancy, spelling and grammar, then invent words like "boxen" and "borked".
Re:FREEOWW!!! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Let's hope (Score:2, Funny)
This sounds like a lie. There is no public exploit out for this.
Re:FREEOWW!!! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:This is why... (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah but you only get half-duplex unless you learn circular breathing...