A patch has been widely released for a vulnerability in the OpenOffice.org productivity suite, a problem rated as “highly critical” by one security vendor.The flaw could be exploited by creating a malicious file in the Windows Metafile (WMF) or Enhanced Metafile (EMF) formats. If the file were opened by a user, it could start running unauthorized code on a computer, according to an advisory by Linux distribution vendor Red Hat, which offers the OpenOffice suite with several of its products.OpenOffice.org is a free software suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet and a presentation program. It’s a competitor to Microsoft’s Office suite, although it’s not as widely used.OpenOffice.org has published a patch, which in turn is being distributed by Red Hat. The problem was first reported in October, but the vendors who distribute OpenOffice—who often work together on security issues—opted not to issue the patch until OpenOffice.org acknowledged earlier this week it was a security issue, said Mark Cox, director of Red Hat’s Security Response Team. No public exploits or even proof-of-concept code has been discovered, he added. Red Hat rated the flaw as only “important,” since a user would have to open a malicious file, Cox said. Red Hat users will either receive an update automatically or notification to upgrade their software, he added.Secunia, however, rated the vulnerability as “highly critical,” a rank of “four” on a five-number scale of increasing severity.The WMF format proved problematic for OpenOffice.org’s rival in 2006. After pressure from its customers, Microsoft issued an out-of-cycle patch early last year for its operating systems after widespread attempts to exploit a WMF vulnerability. The flaw—one of the top security problems of 2006—also left Windows systems vulnerable to running code if a malicious WMF was opened. –Jeremy KirkIDG News Service (London Bureau) Related Links: Hackers Could Pounce over Holidays Security Patch Management: 6 Step Proactive ProcessCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content BrandPost Retail innovation playbook: Fast, economical transformation on Microsoft Cloud For retailers, tight integration of data and systems is the antidote to a challenging economy. By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 24, 2023 3 mins Retail Industry Digital Transformation BrandPost How retailers are empowering business transformation with TCS and Microsoft Cloud AI-powered omnichannel integration and a strong, secure digital core lets retailers innovate across four primary areas while staying compliant, maintaining security and preventing fraud. By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 24, 2023 4 mins Retail Industry Cloud Computing BrandPost How to Build ROI from Cloud Migration This whitepaper and webcast can help you calculate the ROI and create a business case for modernizing your legacy applications to the Microsoft Cloud. By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 24, 2023 1 min Retail Industry Cloud Computing BrandPost How to power a sustainable enterprise on Microsoft Cloud In this eBook, we’ll follow the journey of Amal Skye, a fictitious woman who is committed to living in a way that preserves the planet for the future —and how businesses like Tata Consultancy Services and Microsoft are making that possi By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 24, 2023 1 min Retail Industry Green IT 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