Cracked Windows – Microsoft warns of critical flaw

Microsoft has published a security advisory warning of a critical vulnerability in Microsoft DirectX on older versions of Windows.

The problem is in the way that Microsoft DirectShow handles QuickTime format files – meaning that if a user opened a maliciously crafted QuickTime media file, the hackers could run dangerous code on your computer.

According to Microsoft, all versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 are not vulnerable but Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 are affected.

A proper patch for the problem is not yet available, but the company has issued a workaround that can be used by vulnerable Windows users.

The workaround, which disables QuickTime parsing, involves making changes to the…

Read more in my article on the Naked Security website.

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Graham Cluley •   @gcluley

Graham Cluley is a veteran of the cybersecurity industry, having worked for a number of security companies since the early 1990s when he wrote the first ever version of Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows. Now an independent analyst, he regularly makes media appearances and is an international public speaker on the topic of cybersecurity, hackers, and online privacy. Follow him on Twitter, Mastodon, Threads, Bluesky, or drop him an email.