Eudora speared by massive security hole

Easy exploit compromises e-mail program.

By Kieren McCarthy | Techworld
Published: 00:00 GMT, 07 May 04

Highly popular e-mail program Eudora contains an "easily exploitable" hole that allows remote system access.

According to security experts Secunia and the person who discovered the hole, Paul Szabo, the hole can be exploited with no more than a malicious email containing an overly-long link (over 300 bytes).

It's the usual buffer overflow, execution of malicious code scenario but it affects the most recent versions of Eudora - including the 6.1 update, released just this week. Szabo says the hole "seems fixed in 6.0.1 and 6.0.3, but is un-fixed (exploitable again) in 6.1". However, Secunia reports that 6.0.3 remains vulnerable. Not only this but 5.2.1 and older versions may be wide open too.

With no patch - and no comment as yet by Eudora - the advice given by both Szabo and Secunia is simple: "Don't use Eudora." Both warn there are also other highly critical vulnerabilities in the software, including the fact that attachments can be spoofed and are also pre-extracted, making the spread of worms and viruses far more likely.

Szabo says: "If you still insist on using Eudora, you must disable both Allow executables in HTML content and Use Microsoft's viewer in Tools > Options > Viewing Mail. " He goes on:"You may also want to disable automatically download HTML graphics in Display."

Eudora was an early leader in the e-mail program market, in much the same way as Netscape's Navigator stormed the browser market. However, both have suffered at the hands of Microsoft (Outlook and Explorer, respectively) and occupy a small but significant five per cent of the market. That still means a lot of email clients being open to attack however, and so it is unlikely to be long before an email with malicious code attached is fired out there.

Lots more info is available on Szabo's site here.

What are your views on this subject? Use the form below to post a comment on this article up to 500 characters.

Characters remaining: 500

Add your commentComments

Billwinkle | Published: 01:11 GMT, 22 April 2009

The latest versions of Eudora v7 & above default to NOT leave these two holes open.

Related Security news

Antivirus programs fail to stop new malware

One in three systems infected.

09 February 2010

Adobe sorry for 16-month-old Flash bug

Unpatched vulnerability 'slipped through the cracks'

HTML 5 leaves client storage open to web attacks

Security researcher says web apps could be vulnerable

Rugged Manifesto calls on developers for secure code

Security professionals call for better programming practices

Related Security reviews

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Free review

Kaspersky Lab AntiVirus 2010 review

Avira AntiVir Premium review

Email this article to a friend or colleague:

PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story, and in case of transmission error. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.

Techworld White Papers

Challenges and opportunities of PCI

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard provides an enterprise structure for improving operational, security, and audit performance. The benefits of the PCI DSS go beyond audit costs and results.

Download Whitepaper

Database security: Preventing enterprise data leaks at the source

IDC discusses the growing internal threats to business information, the impact of government regulations on the protection of data, and how enterprises must adopt database security best practices...

Download Whitepaper

Six essential steps to successful IT centralisation

This report, based on the real experience of a recent centralisation project, is aimed at those involved in IT strategy within their organisation. It provides some practical insights for CIOs, CTOs, Heads of IT, IT Directors and those involved more closely with the service management function.

Download Whitepaper

Application Grid: The ideal platform for IT consolidation

Evaluating the opportunity for consolidation of middleware — Java application servers and related technologies.

Download Whitepaper

Techworld UK - Technology - Business

COLT White Paper

Are all VoIP services the same?

Questions to ask your service provider to ensure you get the VoIP service you need
With careful choice of partner, your business can have all the advantages of VoIP access - reduced costs, flexibility and simplicity - without the drawbacks.
This white paper is your guide to ensure you get right the VoIP service and details the pitfalls which businesses would do well to avoid.

Download white paper
COLT White Paper

IT Misuse Survey

Complete this survey and you could win a Nexus One

Techworld are running a short survey to discover how UK businesses are managing Internet and email misuse in the Enterprise.

Complete Survey

Webcast: IT Financial Management: Cost Optimisation for Efficiency and Agility.
On Demand Webcast
Join this webcast to learn about the techniques and technologies that can help you prove the value of IT to the business by understanding the true cost of today's IT services and those that will be necessary to deliver future success.

Register Today

Site Map

IDG Network

* *