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http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106632,00.asp
Linksys Router Flaw Reported
EtherFast model used in homes could expose small networks to crashing by
hackers, security firm says.
Paul Roberts, IDG News Service
Monday, November 04, 2002
An easily exploitable software vulnerability in a common home networking
router by Linksys Group could expose thousands of home users to
denial-of-service attacks, according to a security advisory issued by
IDefense, a software security company.
Linksys is one of a number of companies that sell low-priced network gear
to small-office and home-office customers. The product, the Linksys BEFSR41
EtherFast Cable/DSL Router, is a low-cost router that allows two or more
computers to share an Ethernet or broadband Internet connection.
A security hole in some versions of the software--called "firmware"--used
by the router could allow a remote user to cause the device to crash,
interrupting Internet service for any PCs attached to it, according to
IDefense.
The damage might be slight, because it appears that attackers could only
crash the network; and launching such an attack may require access to a PC
on the targeted network, the security researchers say. But they recommend
that users upgrade the router firmware to version 1.42.7 or later to guard
against such an attack. Linksys representatives were not immediately
available to comment
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