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Windows XP Help and Support Center Vulnerability Patch

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Used Windows XP Help and Support Center Vulnerability Patch for Windows?

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Editors’ Review

Download.com staff
This patch addresses a security flaw in Windows XP's Help and Support Center, preventing unauthorized file deletion via malicious web pages or emails.

  • Pros

    • Fixes a critical file deletion vulnerability
    • Secures Windows XP Help and Support Center
    • Prevents exploitation through web pages and email
    • Improves system security

  • Cons

    • Interim measure; Service Pack 1 is preferred
    • Requires user intervention to install
Icon of program: Windows XP Help and Suppo…

Windows XP Help and Support Center Vulnerability Patch

Download now

Used Windows XP Help and Support Center Vulnerability Patch for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL
Release
Latest update
Version
MS02-060
OPERATING SYSTEMS
Platform
Windows
Operating System
  • Windows 10
  • Windows XP
Additional Requirements
Windows XP
POPULARITY
Total Downloads
25,518
Downloads Last Week
1
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User Reviews

5/5

1 User Votes

Developer’s Description

By Microsoft
Patch the "Flaw in Windows XP Help and Support Center Could Enable File Deletion" vulnerability in Windows XP.
A security vulnerability is present in the Windows XP version of Help and Support Center, and results because a file intended only for use by the system is instead available for use by any Web page. The purpose of the file is to enable anonymous upload of hardware information with the user?s permission, so that Microsoft can evaluate which devices users are not currently finding device drivers for. This information is then used to work with hardware vendors and device teams to improve the quality and quantity of drivers available in Windows. By design, after attempting to upload an XML file containing the hardware information, the system deletes it.

An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a Web page that, when opened, would call the errant function and supply the name of an existing file or folder as the argument. The attempt to upload the file or folder would fail, but the file nevertheless would be deleted. The page could be hosted on a Web site in order to attack users visiting the site, or it could be sent as an HTML mail in order to attack the recipient when it was opened.

Note: Customers should install Windows XP Service Pack 1 as a first option, and install the patch only as an interim measure.

For more information regarding this patch, click here.

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