Risk: Informational
Internet Explorer exploits posed the fastest growing web security threat to enterprises in the last quarter, according to web security services firm ScanSafe. The top exploit (Exploit.HTML.Mht) was used to attack twice as many businesses as any other web security threat in Q2 2004.
While Trojans and worms remain the most significant type of threat, exploits, which accounted for 19 percent of all attacks recorded by ScanSafe, are growing in prevalence. Companies believe the many vulnerabilities recently exposed in popular web browsers, such as runaway market leader Internet Explorer, are creating a ready mechanism for crackers to compromise systems simply by conning users into visiting web sites hosting malicious content.
Analysts are forecasting that exploits driven by browser vulnerabilities will become an increased threat to enterprises. As vulnerabilities continue to emerge in Microsoft Internet Explorer and other browsers, and administrators struggle to update patches, attackers will be quick to take advantage.
Webmail pages remain high risk with 10 percent of all web attacks occurring on these sites. Spyware accounted for 12 percent of all monitored attacks, a continued increase in activity on previous quarters. These malicious applications secretly monitor a user's online activities and may transmit confidential data to third parties.