Microsoft Word Forms Passwords Hacked

SecurityFocus has published a hack that can be used to unlock Microsoft Word documents that have been password protected. The secure file can easily be edited and the original password re-inserted, removing any trace of the modification. Dell uses password protected Word files to send quotes, which could make for a messy legal battle. This feature, known as Password to Modify, is not the password protection on the document itself, just the protection that restricts unauthorized editing of the file. This hack allows someone to download such a file, edit it, and restore the password… effectively allowing changes to the file to go potentially unnoticed