Microsoft warns of ActiveX vulnerability in Access

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Microsoft has issued a warning that its Office Access database software is vulnerable to web attack through the ActiveX control for the Snapshot Viewer.

If a user were lured to an attacker’s web page, the vulnerability could let remote code be executed. That could leave the attacker with the same rights as the logged-on user, Microsoft said.

The problem affects the ActiveX control for the Snapshot Viewer – which lets users view a report snapshot – in Microsoft Office Access 2000, 2002 and 2003.

Microsoft has yet to issue a security patch for the vulnerability, but said that by setting a kill bit – changing the necessary registry setting – users can ensure ActiveX control is never loaded by Internet Explorer. “Setting the kill bit makes sure that even if a vulnerable component is introduced or is re-introduced to a system, it remains inert and harmless,” Microsoft said in its security warning.

For more on that fix and the other recommended workarounds, you can view the advisory here.

Microsoft is set to issue its monthly patch update tomorrow, with just four non-critical fixes expected.

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