While most of the Windows Phone 7.5 operating system is playing catch up to Android and iOS, the Messaging Hub truly shines as a stand-out feature. It allows you to thread Facebook messages, IMs and texts all into one unified conversation, exactly what a messaging app should be.The only problem is that there seems to be a security flaw that disables the Messaging Hub entirely, all from receiving one malicious text. Devices running Microsoft's Window Phone are susceptible to a denial-of-service attack that disables their messaging function, a tipster has told WinRumors.com.
A malicious SMS sent to a Windows Phone 7.5 device will force it to reboot and lock down the messaging hub (see video below). WinRumors said tests revealed that the flaw affected a variety of devices running different builds of the mobile operating system. A Facebook chat message and Windows Live Messenger message will also trigger the bug.
Researchers also uncovered an SMS implementation flaw that they exploited to temporarily crash Android phones, preventing them from receiving or initiating calls or text messages.
Apple and Google patched those vulnerabilities. Microsoft representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but WinRumors says it is working with the tipster to privately reveal the flaw to Microsoft.
WinRumors suspects that this isn’t a device-specific bug, but rather an issue with the Windows Phone OS. No word on a fix yet, but we expect to hear something out of Redmond very soon with regards to a fix.
Apple and Google patched those vulnerabilities. Microsoft representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but WinRumors says it is working with the tipster to privately reveal the flaw to Microsoft.
WinRumors suspects that this isn’t a device-specific bug, but rather an issue with the Windows Phone OS. No word on a fix yet, but we expect to hear something out of Redmond very soon with regards to a fix.
