eSoft Protects Against Windows Vulnerability

Why hackers seek to mess with our computers and data is beyond comprehension, but luckily we have product manufacturers who try to seek out and destroy the offending code.

eSoft, Inc., has announced that it has released protection against what it says is a critical vulnerability in Microsoft Windows operating systems. On Thursday, March 29, eSoft became aware of the file format vulnerability similar to the WMF vulnerabilities recently addressed.

This particular vulnerability involves .ANI files (Windows animated cursor files) that can be disguised as other types of image files and are rendered like images in Outlook, Outlook Express, Internet Explore 6 and 7, and Windows Explorer.

Anyone viewing a malicious or compromised e-mail or a malicious website is at risk, and the issue affects all versions of Windows, including Windows Vista. The number of websites and emails targeting this vulnerability has increased substantially, and as a result eSoft has raised its Threat Level to its highest level ever.

eSoft has released both Anti-Virus and IPS signatures to detect the exploit. The company says that customers with appliances that regularly contact eSoft’s SoftPak Director are already protected and no further action is required.