Information Security News: Apple Patches Security Hole in Mac OS X

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1598258,00.asp

By Ian Betteridge 
May 23, 2004   
 
Apple has released an update to Mac OS X patching a security hole 
that potentially allowed malicious code to be run via a Web page. 

The hole, which was rated as "extremely critical" by security company 
Secunia, allowed an attacker to potentially execute any Unix command, 
including ones to erase the user's home directory. 

The company took the unusual step of issuing a statement announcing 
the fix, in contrast to its previous policy of refusing all comment on 
security issues. 

"Apple takes security very seriously and works quickly to address 
potential threats as we learn of them—in this case, before there was 
any actual risk to our customers," said Philip Schiller, Apple 
Computer Inc.'s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing. 

But according to some users, the company was notified of the problem 
in February and has yet to respond to the original notification. 

The fix is available via the Mac OS X Software Update System 
Preference, or it can be downloaded from Apple's Web site. 

 

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