Vulnerability in Internet Explorer browser allows hackers access to user rights
Over the weekend, Microsoft warned of “targeted attacks that attempt to exploit a vulnerability in Internet Explorer”.
Warning users of the vulnerability, Microsoft said that an attacker could host a specially crafted website and then convince a user to view the website.
The company said: “An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.”
Microsoft said that it is ‘actively working’ Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) partners to provide information that they can use to provide broader protections to customers.
While the company is working on a fix for Internet Explorer versions six through to 11, there will still be issues for those using the Windows XP operating system, as Microsoft ended official support for XP earlier this month.