PowerPoint Zero-Day Attack Affects Macs

The Internet is buzzing with reports about vulnerabilities and exploits in Microsoft software, and while normally, this sort of thing passes by without attracting more than a raised eyebrow from the Mac community, this time, one of these vulnerabilities also affects the Mac.

A new flaw in Microsoft's PowerPoint software can be used by attackers via a maliciously constructed PowerPoint file. Such files can be received in virtually any manner and since there are all kinds of such presentations moving about the internet, such a malicious file can easy pass undetected.

"This issue can allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable computer," Symantec said in an alert sent to customers.

The flaw affects PowerPoint in Office 2000, Office XP and Office 2003 on Windows and Apple Computer's Mac OS X, according to Symantec. Unfortunately, details on how much damage the exploit can do on a Mac are sketchy, however, if the attacks are indeed aimed at specific targets like Symantec suggests, it is possible that someone may make such a PowerPoint file specifically designed to work in OS X.

In the meantime, for temporary protection against PowerPoint attacks, Microsoft suggests keeping security software up-to-date and not opening presentations files from not trust worthy sources. Also, it would be wise to make use of PowerPoint Viewer 2003, as that software is not vulnerable.