Microsoft patches bug in video game Age of Empires II

Microsoft recently rolled out a significant security update, addressing a record number of vulnerabilities across its product range. This initiative was notably enhanced by the application of artificial intelligence, which assisted both the company and external researchers in identifying security flaws. Among the vulnerabilities fixed was a critical issue in the remastered version of the iconic strategy game, Age of Empires II, which has been captivating players for 25 years. This flaw posed a serious risk, enabling hackers to potentially seize control of a victim's computer through a specially crafted malicious game invitation, as highlighted by security experts. A recent video on social media platform X demonstrated how this vulnerability could be exploited. Dubbed the Age of Empires RCE, this exploit could allow malicious actors to join an attacker’s lobby and automatically accept user-generated content, leading to remote code execution. Security firm Rapid7 noted that if successfully executed, this attack could have enabled hackers to install harmful files on the victim’s system, granting them the capability to execute malicious code remotely and take control of the compromised machine. Fortunately, there is currently no evidence indicating that this vulnerability was exploited in real-world scenarios. Nevertheless, targeting gamers remains a popular tactic for cybercriminals aiming to distribute malware and steal sensitive information such as passwords.