Don’t be evil? Google discloses yet another zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft code

[steven36]

For the third time in a month, Google has gone public about a security vulnerability in Microsoft’s code – and not been prepared to wait for the software giant to publish a patch.

The security hole, which exists in Microsoft Windows 7 and 8.1 is expected to be patched in Microsoft’s regular monthly security update on Tuesday February 10th.

But that isn’t good enough for Google’s bug-hunting engineers, who not only went public about the flaw last week, but also published proof-of-concept code to demonstrate how to exploit the vulnerability.

The concern is that the details published by Google, and the proof-of-concept code released by Google’s bug hunters, is effectively a blueprint for online criminals to launch attacks against Windows users, and allow them to gain access to a user’s data in unencrypted form.

Google’s disclosure of the vulnerability – with working exploit code – is highly controversial. Google’s security engineers say that they privately informed Microsoft of the vulnerability in October last year, and started a 90-day countdown ticking before the eventually declassification.

Microsoft told Google that it had planned to roll out to customers a fix for issue in its January patches, but because of “compatibility issues” it got pushed back to February.

But Google couldn’t care less that Microsoft was attempting to ensure that its patch would actually *work*, and went public with details of the flaw anyway – with no patch still available.

So, for the third time in a month (the previous instances were both Windows Elevation of Privilege vulnerabilities) Microsoft users are left exposed to a security hole made public by arch-rival Google.

Of course, in an ideal world, Microsoft shouldn’t have had the security bugs in the first place. But I find it difficult to see how its response hasn’t been appropriate.

Microsoft clearly wants to fix bugs, but it wants to make sure that the fixes work.

Google, meanwhile, appears to have adopted behaviour which I would find more common in a schoolyard.

Isn’t it about time they grew up, and acted responsibly for the safety of internet users?

After all, it’s not as though their own Android backyard doesn’t have some dreadful unpatched security risks of its own.

Source

[VileTouch]

so, can we expect micosoft's engineers start releasing vulnerability details in android any time now?

[dMog]

as i said before...you live by the sword you die by the sword...google id far form perfect and one does not make enemies of powerful and extremely wealthy companies ...memories are long lived and karma is a cold hard you know what when you do bad things

[steven36]

so, can we expect micosoft's engineers start releasing vulnerability details in android any time now?

I doubt it, maybe Goggle is mad at them for stop releasing pre-reports of windows updates . Its not like Goggle makes and O/S at all. I wonder how good Goggle would do at patching if they made and O/S . Properly much worse than Microsoft . They have a hard time keeping Chrome patched and there not going to even patch Jellybean no more for android. They have all these great bug-hunting engineers that know how to find bugs but they dont even know how to fix them in there own products, let alone fix them for Microsoft .

[Karamjit]

i think what Google is doing is absolutely 10000000000000000000000000000000% right. if Microsoft charges several dollars for their product from customers...then who is responsible to protect them. i don't think 90 days are less to make and release a patch. now look at the other side....Linux users get updates almost everyday. as soon as developers find out any vulnerability in the system....patch is issued on the spot. and that is why Linux is hundreds times more secure than Windows. secure without any charge. due to this ...i never paid MS even a penny since 1995. why should i pay them if they keep me unsecured for months (sometimes deliberately)

there is an equation : Windows = pay+suffer

[steven36]

i think what Google is doing is absolutely 10000000000000000000000000000000% right. if Microsoft charges several dollars for their product from customers...then who is responsible to protect them. i don't think 90 days are less to make and release a patch. now look at the other side....Linux users get updates almost everyday. as soon as developers find out any vulnerability in the system....patch is issued on the spot. and that is why Linux is hundreds times more secure than Windows. secure without any charge. due to this ...i never paid MS even a penny since 1995. why should i pay them if they keep me unsecured for months (sometimes deliberately)

there is an equation : Windows = pay+suffer

People who dont pay for something there opinion dont count for much Its sort like if you dont Vote and you talk about politics only your opinion may would help some other person who uses non legit means,.. Even Linux is working with Microsoft on some stuff . I dont know if you use the internet for anything like uses your real personal info but if you was to get attacked because of Goggle telling Hackers how they can access your PC before they can patch it . I bet your opinion would change real quick. :)

[Karamjit]

i think what Google is doing is absolutely 10000000000000000000000000000000% right. if Microsoft charges several dollars for their product from customers...then who is responsible to protect them. i don't think 90 days are less to make and release a patch. now look at the other side....Linux users get updates almost everyday. as soon as developers find out any vulnerability in the system....patch is issued on the spot. and that is why Linux is hundreds times more secure than Windows. secure without any charge. due to this ...i never paid MS even a penny since 1995. why should i pay them if they keep me unsecured for months (sometimes deliberately)

there is an equation : Windows = pay+suffer

People who dont pay for something there opinion dont count for much Its sort like if you dont Vote and you talk about politics only your opinion may would help some other person who uses non legit means,.. Even Linux is working with Microsoft on some stuff . I dont know if you use the internet for anything like uses your real personal info but if you was to get attacked because of Goggle telling Hackers how they can access your PC before they can patch it . I bet your opinion would change real quick. :)

no. my opinion will not change. Google exposed holes will be patched on Feb 10.2015 (no guaranty as we know past behavior of MS). till then hackers may break into the systems even of those people who paid to MS. lol. then where is legitimacy..... and hey brother...don't bother about my system updates....long live DAZ and long live CODYQX4 for their contribution. see you tomorrow

[steven36]

no. my opinion will not change. Google exposed holes will be patched on Feb 10.2015 (no guaranty as we know past behavior of MS). till then hackers may break into the systems even of those people who paid to MS. lol. then where is legitimacy..... and hey brother...don't bother about my system updates....long live DAZ and long live CODYQX4 for their contribution. see you tomorrow

Do you realize that the threat was out already 90 Days. Really Microsoft was going patch it this month but they seen compatibility issues. Microsoft was going release them in Feb anyways .So Google told anyways leaving everyone exposed for a month . So Google done nothing that wasn't going to be done anyways . When you have computer problems because Google rushing Microsoft who are prone to release uncompilable patches every so often you can thank Goggle for it if they dont change .

[nIGHT]

Google should stop wasting too much valuable resources searching for bugs on other products when they should be fixing Jellybean bug. :rolleyes: