Microsoft Windows kernel
July 12th, 2005John Heasman of NGSSoftware has discovered a high risk vulnerability in the Microsoft
Windows kernel. The vulnerability (CAN-2005-0060) permits a logged-on user to escalate
privileges to take full control of the system when Windows processes certain types of font.
Microsoft has developed a patch to fix the problem. More information can be found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS05-018.mspx
NGSSoftware are going to withhold details about this flaw for three months. Full details
will be published on the Tuesday, 12th of July 2005. This three month window will allow
Microsoft customers the time needed to test and apply the patch before the details are
released to the general public. This reflects NGSSoftware’s new approach to responsible
disclosure.
Typhon III, NGSSoftware’s advanced vulnerability assessment scanner, has been updated to
check for and positively identify this flaw. More information about Typhon can be found
here: http://www.ngssoftware.com/typhon.htm
NGSSoftware Insight Security Research
http://www.nextgenss.com/
+44(0)208 401 0070
