IE 0-day using .hlp files
A POC has been posted which outlines how to use VBScript in a .HLP file to invoke winhlp32.exe in Windows 2000, Windows XP SP2, SP3 & Windows 2003 SP2. A malicious page is needed to trick the user into pressing the F1 button which invokes the help function,arbitrary commands can then be executed. The attack works in IE 6, 7, & 8.
A work around is to disable active scripting in Internet Explorer. A second work around is to change the permission on winhlp32.exe as shown in the advisory.
Microsoft has posted an advisory here www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/981169.mspx
Whilst we haven't seen any attacks based on this just yet, if you do please let us know.
Mark
(Thanks David & Pholder)
AU/NZ "Online Offensive - Fight fraud online" week March 1-7
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a report on online fraud today (http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/916075) as part of their awareness campaign "Online Offensive - Fight Fraud Online" which runs March 1-7. The programme runs every year in Australia and New Zealand and aims to educate people about online scams and is a cooperative effort between government and private enterprise. The idea is to provide non-IT people with some of the tools that they can use to recognise the various schemes. We all know someone who has been taken in.
So if you are helping out with Seniors computing courses, or other community computing awareness course, providing some in house training, or even performing internet help desk duties for family members, then you may find some of this information useful.
The following sites all have information on the different scams online:
- www.scamwatch.gov.au - The ACCC also runs the scamwatch website that has a lot of easy to understand information about the various scams doing the rounds.
- www.fido.gov.au - The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has their Fido web site, look under scams & warnings for information.
- www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com - is a good resource for easily digestible scam information. (thanks Tim)
- www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/tech/scams.shtm - The FTC site has scam information. It is written in governmentese so you may need to translate, but nonetheless some good information.
- www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/tech/scams.shtm - A second FTC web site with some more specific information
- www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm - This FBI page has information on some of the newer scams.
- www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Internet_Fraud.shtml - This internet fraud page provides information on where to report fraud as well as some general information.
- www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/small_businesses/scams/ - Some basic info on this UK web site regarding scams
- www.onguardonline.gov - An interactive site providing some good information to help protect internet users
If you have links to government sites specifically related to scams and fraud let us know.
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