Microsoft is investigating reports of a vulnerability in a Windows ActiveX control that could allow an attacker to remotely take control of a computer, according to an advisory issued Friday. One security company rated the vulnerability critical, while Microsoft said it allows only limited attacks.The vulnerability, which is not patched yet, affects certain versions of Windows running Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0, a set of tools that allows programmers to use scripting languages to access XML documents.The affected versions are Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.A user would have to visit a specially crafted website that triggers the XMLHTTP 4.0 ActiveX control, Microsoft said. The attacker would then have the same rights on the machines as the current logged-on user, and could gain complete control of the machine. Users can protect themselves by disabling the affected ActiveX control, although the workaround could stop some websites from functioning correctly. Microsoft describes how to disable the control in an advisory.The SANS Institute classified the flaw as a zero-day vulnerability, meaning the problem is public but not patched. The French Security Incident Response Team called it “critical.” Microsoft issues patches for its software on the second Tuesday of the month. The speed at which a patch is issued depends on the risk of the vulnerability, and the company has issues patches out of cycle for widely exploited vulnerabilities.-Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service (London Bureau)Related Links: Vulnerability Found in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Microsoft Windows Mobile Security Blasted by Analyst Microsoft IE7 Browser Still Contains Old FlawThis article is posted on our Microsoft Informer page. For more news on the Redmond, Wash.-based powerhouse, keep checking in.Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content news Salesforce CEO Benioff shakes up executive team with new hires Six months after the company lost its co-CEO and announced it was laying off 10% of its global workforce, Salesforce’s top team is undergoing a major personnel change. By Charlotte Trueman Jun 07, 2023 3 mins Technology Industry Enterprise Applications opinion Cisco debuts bold portfolio of network, security, and observability solutions and previews generative AI capabilities for Webex and Security Cloud Cisco’s innovative technologies help connect the dots of its network- and cloud-based ecosystem. By Pete Bartolik Jun 07, 2023 4 mins Cloud Security brandpost A guide to hybrid cloud deployment for innovation without disruption How do organizations balance their on-premises preferences and requisites with the crucial need to innovate? By Ahmed Helmy, Global Vice President, Avaya Experience Platform Product Management Jun 07, 2023 3 mins Hybrid Cloud brandpost Bringing AI to your organization? Better bring the right database Why Apache Cassandra offers the scalability, reliability, and speed required for building artificial intelligence applications. By Patrick McFadin Jun 07, 2023 7 mins Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe