Apple Patches QuickTime Holes, Microsoft Warns Of Macrovision Driver Flaw

InformationWeek 6/11/2007
Website: http://www.informationweek.com

Apple on Monday released QuickTime 7.3 for Mac OS X and Windows XP SP2 to patch seven vulnerabilities in its multimedia software.

All seven of the vulnerabilities have the potential to allow arbitrary code execution by an attacker if the user visited a site with certain maliciously crafted movie or image files, or a maliciously crafted Java applet.

Apple updated QuickTime to version 7.2 in July, when it fixed eight security problems with the software.

Microsoft meanwhile warned Monday that a flaw it the Macrovision secdrv.sys driver in Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP is actively being exploited. An attacker making use of the vulnerability potentially could gain elevated privileges to the affected system.

"This vulnerability does not affect Windows Vista," Microsoft said. "We are aware of limited attacks that try to use the reported vulnerability. Microsoft is actively monitoring this situation to keep customers informed and to provide customer guidance as necessary."

Macrovision, which provides Microsoft with digital rights management (DRM) technology, is offering a driver update to address the vulnerability.

Microsoft expressed concern that the vulnerability had been made public rather than first disclosed to the company in private.

"We continue to encourage responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities," Microsoft said. "We believe the commonly accepted practice of reporting vulnerabilities directly to a vendor serves everyone's best interests. This practice helps to ensure that customers receive comprehensive, high-quality updates for security vulnerabilities without exposure to malicious attackers while the update is being developed."

Microsoft said that it plans to address the issue as part of its regularly scheduled patch plan.