Windows Automatic Update now has the patch for this, live. On Tue, Jan 03, 2006 at 08:19:21AM -0500, Larry Seltzer wrote: > *What's Microsoft's response to the availability of third party patches for > the WMF vulnerability? > > Microsoft recommends that customers download and deploy the security update > for the WMF vulnerability that we are targeting for release on January 10, > 2006. > > As a general rule, it is a best practice to utilize security updates for > software vulnerabilities from the original vendor of the software. With > Microsoft software, Microsoft carefully reviews and tests security updates > to ensure that they are of high quality and have been evaluated thoroughly > for application compatibility. In addition, Microsoft's security updates are > offered in 23 languages for all affected versions of the software > simultaneously. > > Microsoft cannot provide similar assurance for independent third party > security updates. > > * Why is it taking Microsoft so long to issue a security update? > > Creating security updates that effectively fix vulnerabilities is an > extensive process. There are many factors that impact the length of time > between the discovery of a vulnerability and the release of a security > update. When a potential vulnerability is reported, designated product > specific security experts investigate the scope and impact of a threat on > the affected product. Once the MSRC knows the extent and the severity of the > vulnerability, they work to develop an update for every supported version > affected. Once the update is built, it must be tested with the different > operating systems and applications it affects, then localized for many > markets and languages across the globe. > -- I'll pretend to trust you if you'll pretend to trust me. Damaged Industries .-. damaged at damaged.no-ip.com .-. / \ .-. _ .-. / \ \-------/-----\-----/---\---/-\---/---\-----/-----\-------/ \ / \ / `-' `-' \ / \ / \ / `-' KeyID: 0x19F8B6A2 `-' \ / `-' http://damaged.no-ip.com/pub.asc `-' 35F1 BB56 DF58 F7D6 CFAF 3ED5 F306 F170 19F8 B6A2