Source Code Leak, Question.

[Dave_07]

As you all probably know by now some of the windows source code has been leaked on to the internet.
However over at http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040213/D80M46CO1.html
they have a story on the whole thing. But apparantly only "incomplete portions of the Windows 2000 and Windows NT4 source code had been illegally made available on the Internet."
So does this mean that any subsequent viruses that could arise as a result of the leaked code will only affect windows 2k & NT4 software, and not affect system's running windows xp software ??

Cheers, Dave.

[Paul Adams]

Depends on a number of things I guess:

How many "portions" were leaked that contain complete sections of code which are exploitable in some way (remote control, buffer overflow, privilege elevation, etc.).
(i.e. not just GUI functions, etc.)

How many the functions performed by the leaked code have been rewritten or patched in one of the 4 service packs (6, in the case of NT 4.0), or hotfixes, since the release version.

How much of Windows XP's functions are founded on the Windows 2000 source with few or no modifications.


I guess only time will tell (as Microsoft sure won't ).

[directhex]

from what i've seen the leaks relate to the kernel, IE rendering back end, shell functions & media functionality of 2000 SP1. that's not comprehensive by any means, but it's what i can gather from the filename listing i've seen

[nichomach]

I'd like to thank my former boss (cheers, Rick) for allowing me to review the leaked source code, which may be found HERE...I think it explains rather a lot...