WEEKEND VULNERABILITY AND PATCH REPORT

March 17, 2013

The following software vulnerabilities and updates were announced by Citadel Information Group.  They strongly recommend that readers update their computers and take other action as indicated.  This is from an e-mail received from Stan Stahl, Ph.D. [www.citadel-information.com] and posted with his approval.

Important Security Updates

Adobe Flash Player / AIR: Adobe has released an update to fix at least 4 highly critical vulnerabilities in its Flash Player and AIR. Updates are available from Adobe's website.
Apple OS X Mountain Lion: Apple has released OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.3 to fix at least 17 vulnerabilities, some of which are highly critical. Updates are available from Apple's website.
Apple Safari: Apple has released version 6.0.3 of Safari which is a part of OS X Mountain Lion to fix at least 17 vulnerabilities, some of which are highly critical. Updates are available from Apple's website.
Google Chrome: Google has released an update to Chrome to fix a highly critical vulnerability. Update to version version 25.0.1364.172 for Windows either through the program or from Chrome's website.
Microsoft Internet Explorer: Microsoft has released version 10.0.9200.16521 for Internet Explorer. This version runs on Windows 7. Update through the Windows Control Panel.
Microsoft Patch Tuesday: Microsoft released 7 updates addressing at least 20 security vulnerabilities, many of them highly critical in Windows, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Silverlight, Microsoft Office and Microsoft SharePoint. Updates are available for Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2003, 2008 and 2012. Updates are available via Windows Update or from Automatic Update.

Current Software Versions

Adobe Flash 11.6.602.180 [Windows 7: IE9, Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, Opera]

Adobe Flash 11.6.602.180 [Windows 8: IE]

Adobe Flash 11.6.602.180 [Macintosh OS X: Firefox, Opera, Safari]

Adobe Reader 11.0.02

Dropbox 1.6.11 [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 19.0.2 [Windows]

Google Chrome 25.0.1364.172

Internet Explorer 10.0.9200.16521 [Windows 7: IE]

Internet Explorer 10.0.9200.16519 [Windows 8: IE]

Java SE 7 Update 17 [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 7.7.3 (1680.64)

Safari 5.1.7  [Windows]

Safari 6.0.3 [Mac OS X]

Skype 6.2.0.106

Important Unpatched Vulnerabilities has moved! 

For an updated list of previously announced Unpatched Vulnerabilities, please see the resources section of Citadel's website.

For Your IT Department

Novell Messenger / Groupwise Messenger: Novell has released updates to its Novell Messenger Client and its Groupwise Messenger to fix a highly critical vulnerability in Novell Messenger 2.2.1 and prior, Novell Messenger 2.1 and prior and GroupWise Messenger 2.04 and prior. Update to version 2.2.2 or later.

Oracle Solaris: Secunia reports Oracle has released updates for multiple products to fix numerous vulnerabilities, some of which are highly critical. Apply appropriate updates.  

WordPress: Secunia reports vulnerabilities in several WordPress plugins. Patches are available for some of these, but no patches are yet available for others.  Check WordPress regularly and monitor closely for updates.  

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