CVE-2007-0099

CVE-2007-0099 is a vulnerability that exists in the way Microsoft Windows handles animated cursor (.ANI) files. This flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on a victim's system by enticing them to view a maliciously crafted .ANI file, either through a webpage or an email attachment. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Microsoft Windows, including Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Server 2003. The vulnerability was first discovered by Alexander Sotirov of VMware and was publicly disclosed in March 2007, along with a working exploit. Microsoft quickly released a patch for the vulnerability as part of their monthly security updates, but many users were slow to install the update. As a result, the vulnerability continued to be exploited by attackers for several months after the patch was released, leading to widespread infections and data theft. The severity of the vulnerability and its exploitation led Microsoft to issue a rare out-of-band security update in April 2007, which addressed additional vulnerabilities related to the animated cursor handling. The incident served as a reminder of the importance of prompt software updates and security patches, as well as the need for strong security measures to prevent and mitigate attacks.