14 DAY TRIAL // If Google plans to launch its own browser, then the Mountain View company can exult even from now because one of the applications that could represent a potential rival doesn't seem to face the competition. Opera, the browser which struggled to challenge Firefox and Internet Explorer, is again vulnerable to attacks as a highly critical security flaw was reported by Secunia. The hole is able to allow an attacker compromise an affected system and seems to concern the way Opera handles JavaScript. It was already confirmed in the versions released before 9.23.
"The vulnerability is caused due to an unspecified error when processing JavaScript code and can result in a virtual function call using an invalid pointer. This can be exploited to execute arbitrary code by e.g. tricking a user into visiting a malicious website," Secunia wrote in the security advisory published today.
The only solution available that can help you avoid a successful exploitation of the vulnerability is to update your Opera browser to version 9.23, the only release that fixes the security flaw.
Until now, the battle for the best browser on the Internet had two clear favorites: Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox. Opera has always been the third one, the browser which struggled to face the competition and challenge the two emperors. However, it didn't manage to do so and it remained only a last point alternative for a lot of users. Today, the speculations were sustaining that another product might join the race and moreover, it might become a favorite to win the battle because it is created by the search giant Google.
It was rumored that Google prepares its own browser and compete with the others but there is no official statement concerning the Gbrowser. So Opera has a little bit more time to resolve its problems and prepare for a new beginning as a potential Google browser might offer the chance to get closer to the rivals.