Third flaw found in IE7

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Microsoft's new browser Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) has had a third flaw identified barely a week after the code was released.

The flaw was identified over the weekend by researchers Per Gravgaard and allows a hacker to subvert legitimate web sites. By crafting special code a hacker can spoof legitimate online sites with their own web pages.

"The problem is that a website can inject content into another site's window if the target name of the window is known," warns the advisory.

"This can e.g. be exploited by a malicious website to spoof the content of a pop-up window opened on a trusted website."

The problem arises in the way the browser handles pop-up pages. Using the flaw a hacker could choose a legitimate pop-up URL and when it opened overlay new web copy in the window, which could be used to harvest the target's personal details.

IE7 should be able to defeat this kind of attack as it displays the current URL of any pop-up, unlike earlier versions of the browser. But, when used in conjunction with the second flaw found in the browser a combination attack can fool IE7 users.

The first security flaw in IE7 was found within days of its release, but Microsoft has disputed this, claiming the problem is not with IE7 but with other applications using the browser.

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