Guest column by Citadel Information Group
Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report
The following software vulnerabilities and updates were announced last week. Citadel Information Group strongly recommends that readers update their computers and take other action as indicated.
Important Security Updates
D-Link DIR-645: D-Link has released version 1.04B05 to fix several moderately critical vulnerabilities reported in previous versions. Updates are available at D-Link’s website.
Mozilla Firefox: Mozilla has released version 23.0 of Firefox. Updates are available through Firefox browser. See unpatched highly critical vulnerabilities below in versions prior to 23.0.
Current Software Versions
Adobe Flash 11.8.800.94 [Windows 7: IE9, Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, Opera]
Adobe Flash 11.8.800.94 [Windows 8: IE]
Adobe Flash 11.8.800.94 [Macintosh OS X: Firefox, Opera, Safari]
Adobe Reader 11.0.03
Dropbox 2.0.25 [Citadel warns against relying on Dropbox security. We recommend files containing sensitive information be independently encrypted with a program like Axcrypt; encryption keys be at least 15 characters long; and the Dropbox password be at least 15 characters long and different from other passwords.]
Firefox 23.0 [Windows]
Google Chrome 28.0.1500.95 [Windows 7]
Google Chrome 28.0.1500.71 [Windows 8]
Internet Explorer 10.0.9200.16521 [Windows 7: IE]
Internet Explorer 10.0.9200.16519 [Windows 8: IE]
Java SE 7 Update 25 [Citadel recommends removing or disabling Java from your browser. Java is a major source of cyber criminal exploits. It is not needed for most internet browsing. If you have particular web sites that requires Java, Citadel recommends using a two-browser approach to minimize risk. If you normally browse the Web with Firefox, for example, disable the Java plugin in Firefox and use an alternative browser - such as Chrome, IE9, Safari, etc - with Java enabled to browse only the sites that require it.]
QuickTime 7.7.4
Safari 5.1.7 [Windows]
Safari 6.0.5 [Mac OS X]
Skype 6.7.0.102
Newly Announced Unpatched Vulnerabilities
Mozilla Firefox: Secunia reports at least 12 highly critical unpatched vulnerabilities in versions prior to 23.0 of Mozilla Firefox. Mozilla has released version 23.0 of Firefox. Updates are available through Firefox browser.
VLC Media Player: Secunia reports several unpatched vulnerabilities in version 2.0.8 of VLC’s Media Player. Other versions may also be affected. There is no official solution currently available.
For an updated list of previously announced Unpatched Vulnerabilities, please see theresources section of Citadel’s website.
For Your IT Department
None
If you are responsible for the security of your computer, Citadel’s Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report is for you. We strongly urge you to take action to keep your workstation patched and updated.
If someone else is responsible for the security of your computer, forward our Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report to them and follow up to make sure your computer has been patched and updated.
Vulnerability management is a key element of cyber security management. Cyber criminals take over user computers by writing computer programs that “exploit” vulnerabilities in operating systems (Windows, Apple OS, etc) and application programs (Adobe Acrobat, Office, Flash, Java, etc). When software companies find a vulnerability, they usually issue an update patch to fix the code running in their customer’s computers.
Citadel Information Group publishes our Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report to alert readers to some of the week’s important updates and vulnerabilities. Our focus is on software typically found in the small or home office (SOHO) or that users are likely to have on their home computer. The report is not intended to be a thorough listing of updates and vulnerabilities.
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