Jump to content

Attacks exploiting RealPlayer


Humpty

Recommended Posts

Attackers are exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in RealPlayer in order to infect Windows machines running Internet Explorer, Symantec Corp. said late Thursday. The security company issued an alert that rated the threat with its highest possible score.

 

According to a warning issued to customers of its DeepSight threat network, Symantec said an ActiveX control installed by RealNetworks Inc.'s RealPlayer program is flawed. When combined with Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer (IE) browser -- which relies on ActiveX controls to extend its functionality -- the bug can be exploited and malicious code downloaded to any PC that wanders to a specially crafted site.

 

Only systems on which both RealPlayer and IE have been installed are vulnerable.

 

Symantec ranked the attack as a "10" on its urgency scale because it has confirmed that attacks are being conducted in the wild; those attacks have resulted in malicious code downloaded to victimized PCs. The only bright spot: "We are not currently aware of widespread exploitation of this issue," the company's warning read. In another section of the advisory, it listed just two IP addresses that it has found hosting exploits of the RealPlayer bug.

 

Multiple versions of RealPlayer install the ActiveX control, including the current 10.5 and the beta of Version 11. RealNetworks has not released a fix, but Symantec said it had informed the media player's maker of the bug.

Computerworld

PCadvisor

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, Humpty.

 

That's the last straw. :angry: Will remove realplayer as soon as Pshadow is off...have always kept it but it is a pain and occupies almost 38 meg on the HD.

The CCleaner SLIM version is always released a bit after any new version; when it is it will be HERE :-)

Pssssst: ... It isn't really a cloud. Its a bunch of big, giant servers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators
That's the last straw. :angry: Will remove realplayer as soon as Pshadow is off...have always kept it but it is a pain and occupies almost 38 meg on the HD.

You'd better have a good registry cleaner to remove most of it's crap that the installer will leave behind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use Opera, so no worries.

 

Anyone actually use real player anymore? I hope not... thats about as bad as having a virus.

I could say the same thing about IE...

 

 

Patch available here: http://service.real.com/realplayer/securit...1007_player/en/

Direct download link: http://service.real.com/realplayer/securit.../securitydb.rnx

 

RealPlayer 10.5 and RealPlayer 11 beta users should install the following patch to address this security vulnerability that aims to cause buffer overflow that could provide the potential for an attacker to run arbitrary or malicious code on a user’s PC

 

---

 

Noticed from the RealPlayer log, that this file was updated: C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\plugins\MPAMedia.dll.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You'd better have a good registry cleaner to remove most of it's crap that the installer will leave behind.

 

Yes, true. Will probably just grind thru it manually. :huh:

The CCleaner SLIM version is always released a bit after any new version; when it is it will be HERE :-)

Pssssst: ... It isn't really a cloud. Its a bunch of big, giant servers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators
Yes, true. Will probably just grind thru it manually. :huh:

With all the stuff the Beta left behind on my system that thankfully Total Uninstall removed you'll have a new significant other for a night manually removing it. :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.