Microsoft security hole enables Mac hacks

Microsoft has discovered a "critical" security hole in its Office software for Macs which could allow a hacker to run code on vulnerable machines.

The vulnerability is due to a buffer overflow problem related to the way Office handles certain HTML elements.

Buffer overflow vulnerabilities occur when software can be caused to fail if it is inundated with information, incorrectly allowing access to systems.

This flaw affects Entourage, Excel, Internet Explorer, Outlook and Powerpoint applications when running on Apple Macintosh machines.

Microsoft was alerted to the flaw by researchers for AngryPacket Security and w00w00.

Concerned users can find information to get a patch here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-019.asp