Check Point Software Technologies Inc (CHKP)

[midastouch017]

Check Point Provides Preemptive Protection Against Microsoft IP Validation Vulnerability
Wednesday April 13, 7:20 pm ET


REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2005--Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:CHKP - News), the worldwide leader in securing the Internet, today announced that it provides preemptive protection again the latest looming Microsoft vulnerability. The IP Validation vulnerability reported by Microsoft on April 12, 2005 has the potential to cause an affected system to remotely execute code. This vulnerability, if exploited, could result in damaging outbreaks like the infamous Nimda and CodeRed worms. Microsoft issued the bulletin on April 12, 2005, but Check Point has provided a preemptive defense against such threats for more than three years.

Users of Check Point VPN-1® and InterSpect(TM) are automatically protected against this vulnerability. The vulnerability is based on sending a packet with a malformed IP option that might cause arbitrary code to run on the target system. Preemptive protection is imperative with this threat because one successful exploit could amount to an affected system remotely executing code, i.e. installing programs; viewing, changing or deleting data; even creating new accounts with full user rights.

A detailed description of the threat and defense is available to subscription customers of the SmartDefense Service. For more information on the Microsoft IP Validation vulnerability, please see advisory CPAI-2005-78 at www.checkpoint.com/defense/advisories/public/2005/cpai-2005-78.html.

About SmartDefense

The Check Point SmartDefense(TM) Service maintains the most current preemptive security by providing real-time updates and configuration advice for security defenses and policies. The SmartDefense Service is available with VPN-1® Pro(TM), VPN-1 Express(TM), InterSpect(TM), Connectra(TM), and Integrity(TM) (via the SmartDefense Program Advisor Service).

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