WEEKEND VULNERABILITY AND PATCH REPORT

May 19, 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 Acrobat: Adobe has released an update to Acrobat to fix at least 27 vulnerabilities, some of which are highly critical.  Updates are available from within the program or Adobe's website.

Adobe Flash: Adobe has released updates for several versions of its Flash Player to fix at least 13 highly critical vulnerabilities, including Windows, Mac, Linux and Android devices. Updates are available from within the program or Adobe's website. Updates are also available for Adobe AIR.

Adobe Reader: Adobe has released version 11.0.03 to Reader to fix at least 27 vulnerabilities, some of which are highly critical. Updates are available from within the program or Adobe's website.

Apple iTunes: Apple has released version 11.0.3 for iTunes to fix at least 40 vulnerabilities, some of which are highly critical. Updates are available through iTunes or Apple's website.

BlackBerry Tablet OS: BlackBerry has released an update to fix at least 35 vulnerabilities, some of which are highly critical, in its bundled version of Adobe Flash Player. Update to version 2.1.0.1526 or later.

Keepass: Keepass has released version 2.22 to Keepass. The update is available on Keepass' website.

Mozilla Firefox: Mozilla has released version 21.0 of Firefox. Updates are available through Firefox. See unpatched vulnerability below in versions prior to 21.0. Updates are also available for Thunderbird.

Microsoft Patch Tuesday: Microsoft released several updates addressing at least 33 security vulnerabilities, some of which are highly critical, in Windows, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Publisher, Office Communicator, Visio, and Word. Updates are available via Windows Update or from Automatic Update. This update includes the fix for the Zero Day in Internet Explorer 8, which we first alerted readers to in a Special Alert in Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report, May 5, 2013.  

Microsoft Windows: Microsoft has released an update to Windows 8 to fix at least 13 highly critical vulnerabilities in its bundled version of Adobe Flash Player within Internet Explorer 10. Updates are available through Windows Update in the Control Panel

Current Software Versions

Adobe Flash 11.7.700.202 [Windows 7: IE9, Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, Opera]

Adobe Flash 11.7.700.202 [Windows 8: IE]

Adobe Flash 11.7.700.202 [Macintosh OS X: Firefox, Opera, Safari]

Adobe Reader 11.0.03

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 21 [Windows]

Google Chrome 26.0.1410.64

Internet Explorer 10.0.9200.16521 [Windows 7: IE]

Internet Explorer 10.0.9200.16519 [Windows 8: IE]

Java SE 7 Update 21 [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 6.0.4 [Mac OS X]

Skype 6.3.0.105

Newly Announced Unpatched Vulnerabilities

Mozilla Firefox: Secunia reports at least 11 highly critical unpatched vulnerabilities in versions prior to 21.0 of Mozilla's Firefox. No patches are available at this time. Update to version 21.0 of Firefox.  

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

For Your IT Department

Cisco Multiple Products: Cisco has released updates for multiple products, including Cisco's Wireless LAN controller, WebEx, Unified Meeting Place, Unified Communications Domain Manager, and others. Apply appropriate updates.  

Microsoft Malware Protection Products: Mozilla has released an update to its Malware Protection Products to fix a highly critical vulnerability.  Ensure that systems are running version 1.1.9506.0 or later of Microsoft Malware Protection Engine.

Mozilla Firefox ESR: Mozilla has released an update to its Firefox ESR to fix at least 8 highly critical vulnerabilities. Update to version 17.0.6. More information is available on Mozilla's website. Updates are also available for Thunderbird ESR.

If you are responsible for the security of your computer, Citadel's Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report is for you. We strongly urge you to take action to keep your workstation patched and updated.

If someone else is responsible for the security of your computer, forward our Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report to them and follow up to make sure your computer has been patched and updated.

Vulnerability management is a key element of cyber security management. Cyber criminals take over user computers by writing computer programs that "exploit" vulnerabilities in operating systems (Windows, Apple OS, etc) and application programs (Adobe Acrobat, Office, Flash, Java, etc). When software companies find a vulnerability, they usually issue an update patch to fix the code running in their customer's computers.

Citadel publishes our Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report to alert readers to some of the week's important updates and vulnerabilities. Our focus is on software typically found in the small or home office (SOHO) or that users are likely to have on their home computer. The report is not intended to be a thorough listing of updates and vulnerabilities.

Copyright © 2013 Citadel Information Group. All rights reserved.