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		<title>.XLSX files as a security risk</title>
		<link>http://www.noooxml.org/forum/t-133339/xlsx-files-as-a-security-risk</link>
		<description>Posts in the discussion thread &quot;.XLSX files as a security risk&quot; - Some Open XML based products as Microsoft Excel are affected by a security flaw and the Trojan.Mdropper.AC.</description>
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				<guid>http://www.noooxml.org/forum/t-133339#post-395832</guid>
				<title>.XLSX files as a security risk</title>
				<link>http://www.noooxml.org/forum/t-133339/xlsx-files-as-a-security-risk#post-395832</link>
				<description></description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:13:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<wikidot:authorName>arebenti</wikidot:authorName>				<wikidot:authorUserId>36024</wikidot:authorUserId>				<content:encoded>
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						 <p><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/968272.mspx">Microsoft kindly informed its customers about the latest security risks associated with the Open XML file format</a>: The <a href="http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-trojan-mdropper-ac.html">Trojan.Mdropper.AC</a>. Microsoft is investigating public reports of a vulnerability in Excel that could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Excel file. At this time, they are aware only of limited and targeted attacks that attempt to use this vulnerability.</p> <blockquote> <p>An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability <strong>could gain the same user rights as the local user</strong>. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less affected than users who operate with administrative user rights.<br /> In a <strong>Web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a Web site that contains an Office file that is used to attempt to exploit this vulnerability</strong>. In addition, compromised Web sites and Web sites that accept or host user-provided content could contain specially crafted content that could exploit this vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a malicious Web site. Instead, an attacker would have to persuade them to visit the Web site, typically by getting them to click a link that takes them to the attacker's site.<br /> The vulnerability <strong>cannot be exploited automatically through e-mail.</strong> For an attack to be successful a user must open an attachment that is sent in an e-mail message. Users who have installed and are using the Office Document Open Confirmation Tool for Office 2000 will be prompted with Open, Save, or Cancel before opening a document.</p> </blockquote> <p>So users probably should be very cautious with .xlsx files sent to them until the risks are contained through security updates.</p> <p>Background:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2341656,00.asp">PCmag</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/33870/info">Security Focus</a></li> </ul> 
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