Adobe Flash exploit raises concern

Symantec warns of new exploit against the current version of Adobe Flash Player.

Robert Vamosi Former Editor

As CNET's former resident security expert, Robert Vamosi has been interviewed on the BBC, CNN, MSNBC, and other outlets to share his knowledge about the latest online threats and to offer advice on personal and corporate security.

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Robert Vamosi

May 30, 2008 11:15 a.m. PT

Update 11:10 a.m. May 30: Despite earlier reports, version 9.0.124.0 of Adobe Flash Player has no new bugs. For the latest news, click here.

Legitimate Web sites hosting Adobe Flash Player content may be compromised to embed JavaScript that redirects users to a Chinese malware server, says Symantec. Affected versions of Adobe Flash Player include 9.0.124 .0 (latest version) and 9.0.115.0.

Symantec says that under certain conditions embedded JavaScript within the player will redirect users to dota11.cn. In an alert on Tuesday, Symantec said specific details about the vulnerability exploited were unknown, and initial testing of the in-the-wild exploit showed it to be unreliable. Nonetheless, Symantec said it had identified at least one commercial site, www.bridgettwalther.com, which is a horoscope Web site, but that the embedded malicious code has since been removed.

More details available here.

Symantec recommends that users use script-disabling plug-ins such as NoScript for Firefox to prevent embedded Flash scripts from being loaded.