Backdoor Code Found in Microsoft Software Backdoor Code Found in Microsoft Software Paul Jones
Unidentified Microsoft Corp. engineers have created a backdoor password in some of the company's Net software that may be used to gain illegal access to sites all over the world.
Two security experts reportedly found the secret code, which poked fun at rival Netscape's engineers, referring to them as "weenies," the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
Steve Lipner, manager of Microsoft's security-response center, said such a backdoor password as "absolutely against our policy" and a firing offense for the as yet unidentified employees.
The company said it would give clients, many of whom include giant Net hosting providers, a heads up with an e-mail bulletin and an advisory published on its corporate Web site. Microsoft (MSFT) urged customers to delete the file called "dvwssr.dll," which houses the offending code. The file is installed on the firms Net-server software with Frontpage 98 extensions.
