June 8, 2007 7:48 AM PDT

Yahoo releases critical security patch for IM

Yahoo releases critical security patch for IM
Related Stories

Yahoo plugs Messenger hole

April 4, 2007

Yahoo Messenger releases security update

December 15, 2006
Related Blogs

Yahoo IM hit with critical security flaws


June 6, 2007
Yahoo has issued a critical security patch for Messenger to address zero-day exploits that take advantage of vulnerabilities in its Webcam ActiveX controls.

The exploits to instant messaging surfaced Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the vulnerabilities were first reported to Yahoo by eEye Digital Security.

Messenger users' computers could be at risk if they visit malicious Web sites or view other malicious HTML code. The attackers could then exploit security flaws in the Yahoo Webcam ActiveX control, a software package that is downloaded with Messenger.

eEye Digital Security discovered the flaw and reported it to Yahoo earlier this week. eEye gave the problem its highest risk rating; fellow security company Secunia did the same, labeling it "extremely critical." Yahoo issued the patch in an update on Thursday.

Yahoo's advisory on the problem states that anyone using a version of Messenger obtained before Friday should download the update.

In December, Yahoo issued a "highly critical" update to address another ActiveX security flaw in Messenger. The vulnerability was found in the ActiveX control for Yahoo's services suite, which could be exploited to launch a buffer overflow attack.

See more CNET content tagged:
eEye Digital Security, security patch, Yahoo! Inc., vulnerability, ActiveX Control

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 6 comments
Yahoo!!!!
by wayland.ind June 8, 2007 12:31 PM PDT
i'm surprised yahoo is fast on patching messenger. i know is the
windows version but still. where as for the mac version it has been
in beta1 status for 1 year now; i wonder if they'll keep up to their 3
year schedule for releaseing another version or just kill the project
for good. from what i know they only have 1 developer on their
team. is Yahoo that poor that they can't hire some more people to
speed up the release?
Reply to this comment View reply
No surprise there
by Itsya September 6, 2007 6:34 AM PDT
Well, I posted Yahoo's lack of security in February of 2004 and I am going to leave it there as long as the internet exists because when my Yahoo account got hacked they refused to do anything about it, it was a PAID account too, they managed to find the credit card information and I cancelled it back then, now I only use Yahoo for free and junk mail and NEVER use their IM, never have and never will. They are just too easy to hack. Seems they need to REAL computer professionals with REAL computer engineering degrees from accredited Universities, instead of relying on "gamers/hacker/computer junkies/MS certificates/(no slur intended) to maintain their security and design programs.
Reply to this comment
Powered by Jive Software
advertisement

Latest tech news headlines

RSS Feeds

Add headlines from CNET News to your homepage or feedreader.

More feeds available in our RSS feed index.

advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right
  • News - Business Tech

    Dell planning to ditch factories

    Dell's new CFO Brian Gladden has said that the company "more work to be done," to improve profitability and decrease costs. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the company is planning to lower costs by selling off its factories.

  • Gallery

    Photos: Ron Paul's RNC alternative

    As the Republican convention took place just miles away, a crowd rallied for the former presidential candidate and his message of limited government, ensured civil liberties, lower taxes, and peace.

  • Negative Approach

    Online content and services via game consoles will generate $8 billion in revenue in 2013

    The revenue possibilities in gaming continue to grow, at least for the big console manufacturers.

  • Beyond Binary

    Microsoft begins big ad push

    Microsoft's multi-year push, estimated at $300 million, begins with a spot featuring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld aired during Thursday's NFL game.

  • Video

    YouTube plays party politics

    During the presidential campaigning four years ago, YouTube didn't even exist. Now it's a tool candidates must master to get their message across. CNET's Kara Tsuboi stops by the YouTube upload booths at the Democratic and Republican conventions to find out why Google's video site has such a big presence in Denver and St. Paul, Minn.

  • News - Wireless

    Was EarthLink's failed citywide Wi-Fi a blessing in disguise?

    Wireless Philadelphia, the nonprofit charged with providing broadband bundles to low-income families in Philadelphia, may be better off in the long run without EarthLink.

  • Video

    Political party playlists

    We know the Democrats and Republicans are split over policy issues, but does their musical taste fall down party lines too? And what kind of gadgets did they bring to the conventions to listen to their music? CNET reporter Kara Tsuboi finds out.

  • News - Gaming and Culture

    Behind the prototyping of 'Spore'

    Many of the components of Will Wright's highly anticipated evolution game started out as small concept projects that are now available to the public.

  • News - Cutting Edge

    Execs predict next Google-like tech

    On eve of company's 10-year anniversary, researchers and business pundits speculate about what technologies might someday have as much impact as Google.

  • Gallery

    Photos: The brains behind Google Chrome

    Here's a look at some of the engineers and executives who took the stage at the company's headquarters as they unveiled the new browser.

  • The Cheapskate

    Record TV in style with a refurbished TiVo HD, $179.99 shipped

    TiVo is offering refurb HD units for cheap, though you'll still have to pay for the TiVo service.

  • Green Tech

    Clean-tech group forms to support Obama

    "Clean Tech and Green Business for Obama" aims to raise $1 million for the Democratic presidential nominee while elevating issues of climate change and alternative energy.