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Firefox flaw code published

Joris Evers CNET News.com

Published: 23 Sep 2005 12:15 BST

Computer code that could be used to attack Firefox, Mozilla Suite and Netscape users has been released on the Internet. The release of the attack code comes days after Mozilla released an updated version of Firefox to fix several security flaws, including the bug exploited by the code. A fixed version of the Mozilla Suite is also available, but Firefox-based Netscape has yet to be updated. The Netscape browser is a product of Netscape, which is a division of Time Warner's America Online subsidiary. An AOL spokesman had no comment on Thursday.

The attack code exploits a vulnerability that was disclosed two weeks ago. The flaw lies in the way the browsers handle International Domain Names, which are Web addresses that use international characters. Hackers had been working to exploit the flaw and had said the code would be released after fixes were available. The exploit could let attackers run code remotely on vulnerable computers and works on Firefox, Mozilla and, in some cases, Netscape, according to security researcher Berend-Jan Wever, who published the code. Mozilla has urged users to upgrade to the latest versions of its products.

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Its the applications and device drivers that run on windows that cement its dominance. How many people would fork out hundreds of pounds for Vista if Linux ran all the software and kit they wanted to use.