McAfee Inc - Proven Security

Global Threat Condition

Microsoft has released 11 Security Bulletins on August 12, covering 26 separate vulnerabilities. The bulletins addressed errors in Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook Express, Microsoft Mail, and Windows Messenger. On July 7, Microsoft released Security Advisory 955179 announcing a Snapshot Viewer ActiveX control flaw in Microsoft Access. This vulnerability was patched by Microsoft on August 12. Exploit code has been released for a recently disclosed DNS Cache Poisoning Vulnerability, CVE-2008-1447, which affects several vendors. Administrators are urged to patch as soon as possible.

Critical

Systems worldwide are targeted by a worm.

New malware that potentially can cause damage has been reported and has spread globally.

Severe

An unpatched or recently patched vulnerability can be exploited by a worm, and systems worldwide are at risk to be targeted by a particular worm. No worm activity has been identified.

A high incidence of new malware that potentially can cause damage has been reported.

Elevated

An unpatched or recently patched vulnerability is present on many systems worldwide but requires user interaction to be exploited.

An existing vulnerability becomes more serious because new exploit code has been published.

There is new malware activity, but it is not widespread.

Low

There is no direct threat to systems that have been patched.

No new significant malware activity has been reported.