Microsoft SP3 blocks some current CorelDraw files

By Janine de Blois

SP3 was released by Microsoft Office in September. Its intent is to increase security of Office 2003 by not allowing many older file versions to open-including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and others.

However it includes blocking current CorelDraw (.cdr) files.

Corel is not happy and is trying to determine what the issue is with these files. Both Corel and Computerworld have searched security sites such as US=CERT and Securia, but has not found any problem with .cdr files listed.

Microsoft Office product manager, Reed Shaffner says the security problem may lie in the code MS Office uses to parse the files when opening them.

Microsoft is working on a way to unblock the files for personal users. Corel, anxious to resolve the problem quickly, is working with MS to determine the issues.