HP patches 'bricking' bug in software update service


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	December 04th, 2008 Microsoft and RSA partner on Data Loss Prevention more Worm uses familiar brands to lure people more Company data at the mercy of crooks more Norton AntiVirus Begone! more Criminals Take Control of CheckFree Web Site more Firefox Users Targeted by Rare Piece of Malware more Hacker threat: Rudd promises action more Lib Dems criticise 'shambolic' DNA database more Experts: US cybersecurity needs fresh ideas more Pentagon hacker tries one more time to avoid extradition more Virtually every Windows PC at risk, says Secunia more Sun patches at least 14 bugs in Java more Security, civil liberties experts question data mining more

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December 25th, 2007

HP patches 'bricking' bug in software update service

Hewlett-Packard Co. has fixed flaws in a patch-management program bundled with its computers, printers and other hardware that could be used by hackers to ‘brick’ HP or Compaq PCs.

In an alert sent to customers who subscribe to its security warning service, HP said users should run Software Update to patch the flaws disclosed last week by a Polish researcher known only by his alias, ‘porkythepig.’ A pair of bugs in the update service's ActiveX control can be used to execute remote code or gain additional access rights, porkythepig said then. He also posted proof-of-concept exploit code that showed how to use one of the vulnerabilities to overwrite and corrupt crucial Windows' system files, an attack that would leave any affected PC unbootable.

That would essentially ‘brick’ the system, since many HP and Compaq PCs do not include a restore CD or DVD, but instead place operating system and application restore files on the hard drive. (Those with separate restore media could likely be revived.)

HP's advisory of Friday instructed users to run Software Update on any machine that has the application, even if the update service is never used. Running Update presumably disables the flawed ActiveX control by setting its ‘kill bit’ in the Windows registry - the fix suggested last week by Symantec Corp. before HP owned up to the problem - although that could not be verified today.

Danish vulnerability tracker Secunia ASP pegged the Software Update issue as ‘highly critical,’ its second-most-dire threat ranking, but HP, which does not rate vulnerabilities, only noted that the advisory ‘should be acted upon as soon as possible.’

HP also acknowledged that the buggy Software Update was in even wider distribution than first thought. Last week, porkythepig speculated that the newest vulnerabilities might affect the same 83 laptop models that had been hit with other bugs Dec. 12. HP, however, said in the advisory that the application ‘may be installed on a PC as part of the software supplied with certain HP PCs, printers, scanners or cameras.’

Customers who don't receive the company's security alerts via e-mail can read the HP advisory on the Bugtraq security mailing list, where the alert was also posted last Friday.

HP did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.

Source: COMPUTERWORLD

	All news for December 04th, 2008:
	17:31	Microsoft and RSA partner on Data Loss Prevention
	17:29	Worm uses familiar brands to lure people
	17:27	Company data at the mercy of crooks
	17:23	Norton AntiVirus Begone!
	17:15	Criminals Take Control of CheckFree Web Site
	17:14	Firefox Users Targeted by Rare Piece of Malware
	17:12	Hacker threat: Rudd promises action
	17:11	Lib Dems criticise 'shambolic' DNA database
	17:10	Experts: US cybersecurity needs fresh ideas
	17:08	Pentagon hacker tries one more time to avoid extradition
	17:07	Virtually every Windows PC at risk, says Secunia
	17:06	Sun patches at least 14 bugs in Java
	17:05	Security, civil liberties experts question data mining
	All news for December 03rd, 2008:
	15:18	Hackers run Linux on iPhone
	15:17	Your face is easy to fake, says security company
	15:15	Microsoft opens up Vista SP2 beta
	15:09	Latest VB100 malware test brings good news
	14:57	Botnet Master Sees Himself as Next Bill Gates
	14:53	Apple removes Mac antivirus recommendation
	14:51	License server glitch exposes SonicWall users to e-mail security threats
	14:50	U.S. report sees major terror attack by 2013, ignores cyberattack risk
	14:48	Lenovo arms ThinkPads with Intel's built-in security
	14:44	Feds nab more members of alleged identity theft gang
	14:43	Apple's antivirus advice 'big to-do about nothing,' says researcher
	14:42	Opinion: Is there a hidden cost to data protection?
	14:41	Human error is top IT security concern
	14:40	Workers worried about job security might steal corporate data

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