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See, this is why Apple and Sun should get along. [OS X Exploit]

naengwennaengwen Registered User regular
So, this was thrown up a few days ago:
http://landonf.bikemonkey.org/code/macosx/CVE-2008-5353.20090519.html

There's 2 things about this that bug me:
1) It actually works. Take the "say" command, replace it with your favorite "rm" command, and stick it on a popular site. One password entry later, your hard drive's gone.
2) No fix for it yet. His demonstration has been up for a little over a day now, why hasn't Apple posted a Java security update that actually addresses it? He even mentions in this blog that Sun found and patched this out of it's own Java five months ago.

Either way, if you're using Mac OS X right now and haven't done so already, disable Java on your Web browsers. If you're using Safari, Disable "Open safe files after downloading" (durr).

naengwen on

Posts

  • ZackSchillingZackSchilling Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    It's rumored that Apple renegotiated their (stupid) deal banning Sun from making their own JVM for OS X. Initially, Apple made a great JVM, then lost interest and allowed it to languish.

    I've heard Sun's replacement will be released alongside v10.6. No clue about back-porting.

    ZackSchilling on
    ghost-robot.jpg
  • naengwennaengwen Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    It's rumored that Apple renegotiated their (stupid) deal banning Sun from making their own JVM for OS X. Initially, Apple made a great JVM, then lost interest and allowed it to languish.

    I've heard Sun's replacement will be released alongside v10.6. No clue about back-porting.

    That's something I'd like to hear come out of a predicament like this. Well that, and a very rapid bug fix, be it from Sun or from Apple.

    naengwen on
  • ObsObs __BANNED USERS regular
    edited May 2009
    Jesus christ

    Obs on
  • Epyon9283Epyon9283 Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    I doubt Sun is bringing their JVM to OS X. There'd be more evidence of it since the JDK is open source now.

    Apple just plain screwed up with Java on OS X. They spent way too much time bringing Java 6 over and when it got here it was 64bit intel only. WTF? Still users are stuck with Java 5 browser plugin. A version that's three releases old. Java 5 is going ESOL in October.

    I just disabled Java in all my browsers. Safest thing to do until Apple finally gets around to finally releasing java update 4.

    Epyon9283 on
  • Dark ShroudDark Shroud Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Anyone think Apple'll pull some of this commercials over this?

    Probably not.

    Dark Shroud on
  • Epyon9283Epyon9283 Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Apple just released another developer preview of Java Update 4 today. Includes Java 1.5.0_19 which fixes the vulnerability. I think you need a ADC account to download it though.

    Epyon9283 on
  • ObsObs __BANNED USERS regular
    edited May 2009
    Hooray, so an exploit was fixed.


    Unlike on a PC, where they just get shoved under a rug.

    Obs on
  • JAEFJAEF Unstoppably Bald Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Obs wrote: »
    Hooray, so an exploit was fixed.


    Unlike on a PC, where they just get shoved under a rug.
    No no no. They get woven into a blanket. Microsoft just refuses to give you the blanket cover slip until the entire blanket has been completed.

    JAEF on
  • ZackSchillingZackSchilling Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Obs wrote: »
    Hooray, so an exploit was fixed.


    Unlike on a PC, where they just get shoved under a rug.

    Did you miss the part where this same exploit hit PCs and Macs, but the PC side had it fixed first? Sure, it was up to Sun, not Microsoft, but we don't want to get into Apple vs Microsoft's patching schedule. Besides, Apple doesn't even have a patching schedule, doesn't offer hot fixes, and sometimes, like this time, leaves exploits unfixed long after everyone else has taken care of them. They haven't needed to be as security-minded in the past but they should really get on this stuff.

    ZackSchilling on
    ghost-robot.jpg
  • naengwennaengwen Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Epyon9283 wrote: »
    Apple just released another developer preview of Java Update 4 today. Includes Java 1.5.0_19 which fixes the vulnerability. I think you need a ADC account to download it though.

    Seems to be working; applet just gives a bootstrap failure now. Isn't this more of an immediate security fix than a stability update bundle sort of thing, though?

    naengwen on
  • CmdPromptCmdPrompt Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    naengwen wrote: »
    There's 2 things about this that bug me:
    1) It actually works. Take the "say" command, replace it with your favorite "rm" command, and stick it on a popular site. One password entry later, your hard drive's gone.
    Why would this bug you? Most exploits are exploits because they work. :|

    CmdPrompt on
    GxewS.png
  • RobmanRobman Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Obs wrote: »
    Hooray, so an exploit was fixed.


    Unlike on a PC, where they just get shoved under a rug.

    That's quite the power you have, to redirect your poop out your mouth and onto the interwebs.

    Robman on
  • PeregrineFalconPeregrineFalcon Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    CmdPrompt wrote: »
    naengwen wrote: »
    There's 2 things about this that bug me:
    1) It actually works. Take the "say" command, replace it with your favorite "rm" command, and stick it on a popular site. One password entry later, your hard drive's gone.
    Why would this bug you? Most exploits are exploits because they work. :|

    Because it's an open-palmed full-force slap to the face of the Macs never get exploits hurr durr crowd?

    PeregrineFalcon on
    Looking for a DX:HR OnLive code for my kid brother.
    Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
  • bigwahbigwah Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Obs wrote: »
    Hooray, so an exploit was fixed.


    Unlike on a PC, where they just get shoved under a rug.

    Interesting.

    bigwah on
    LoL Tribunal:
    "Was cursing, in broken english at his team, and at our team. made fun of dead family members and mentioned he had sex with a dog."
    "Hope he dies tbh but a ban would do."
  • DogDog Registered User, Administrator, Vanilla Staff admin
    edited May 2009
    but... but... it's an apple! there are no imperfections to the steel of its armor!

    Unknown User on
  • RobmanRobman Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    bigwah wrote: »
    Obs wrote: »
    Hooray, so an exploit was fixed.


    Unlike on a PC, where they just get shoved under a rug.

    Interesting.

    lol

    Robman on
  • ZackSchillingZackSchilling Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    CmdPrompt wrote: »
    naengwen wrote: »
    There's 2 things about this that bug me:
    1) It actually works. Take the "say" command, replace it with your favorite "rm" command, and stick it on a popular site. One password entry later, your hard drive's gone.
    Why would this bug you? Most exploits are exploits because they work. :|

    Because it's an open-palmed full-force slap to the face of the Macs never get exploits hurr durr crowd?

    If there are people who actually think like this, then I'm baffled. Macs always get exploits, I read about them online and in Apple's security patch release notes. They just never seem to get widespread, malicious worms/viruses based on said exploits. I don't know why, you'd think the perceived smugness (which isn't a legitimate representation of most Mac users) would be enough to drive some malware developers to kick over a sandcastle or two.

    ZackSchilling on
    ghost-robot.jpg
  • naengwennaengwen Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    CmdPrompt wrote: »
    naengwen wrote: »
    There's 2 things about this that bug me:
    1) It actually works. Take the "say" command, replace it with your favorite "rm" command, and stick it on a popular site. One password entry later, your hard drive's gone.
    Why would this bug you? Most exploits are exploits because they work. :|

    Yeah, but in this case, it "just works."

    Really though, let me rephrase: it's the severity of the exploit which bugs me. We've seen OS X exploits publicized in the past, sure, but I don't think any of them have been quite as serious as this one. Would it be an issue if Sun were releasing Java for OS X? Apparently not, since they found this exact same exploit and fixed it nearly half a year ago.

    As Epyon said, Apple screwed up with Java on OS X. It might not be likely, but I'll still hope that rumor Zack mentioned is accurate.

    naengwen on
  • RobmanRobman Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    CmdPrompt wrote: »
    naengwen wrote: »
    There's 2 things about this that bug me:
    1) It actually works. Take the "say" command, replace it with your favorite "rm" command, and stick it on a popular site. One password entry later, your hard drive's gone.
    Why would this bug you? Most exploits are exploits because they work. :|

    Because it's an open-palmed full-force slap to the face of the Macs never get exploits hurr durr crowd?

    If there are people who actually think like this, then I'm baffled. Macs always get exploits, I read about them online and in Apple's security patch release notes. They just never seem to get widespread, malicious worms/viruses based on said exploits. I don't know why, you'd think the perceived smugness (which isn't a legitimate representation of most Mac users) would be enough to drive some malware developers to kick over a sandcastle or two.

    I think the reason most people hate mac owners is Obs and his ilk. Highly visible minorities will fuck up anyone's image. <3 Obs for continuing to stick to his guns though.

    Robman on
  • autono-wally, erotibot300autono-wally, erotibot300 love machine Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Obs wrote: »
    Hooray, so an exploit was fixed.


    Unlike on a PC, where they just get shoved under a rug.
    Unfortunately, it seems that many Mac OS X security issues are ignored if the severity of the issue is not adequately demonstrated. Due to the fact that an exploit for this issue is available in the wild, and the vulnerability has been public knowledge for six months

    autono-wally, erotibot300 on
    kFJhXwE.jpgkFJhXwE.jpg
  • CmdPromptCmdPrompt Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    naengwen wrote: »
    CmdPrompt wrote: »
    naengwen wrote: »
    There's 2 things about this that bug me:
    1) It actually works. Take the "say" command, replace it with your favorite "rm" command, and stick it on a popular site. One password entry later, your hard drive's gone.
    Why would this bug you? Most exploits are exploits because they work. :|

    Yeah, but in this case, it "just works."

    Really though, let me rephrase: it's the severity of the exploit which bugs me. We've seen OS X exploits publicized in the past, sure, but I don't think any of them have been quite as serious as this one.
    Well, no, not really.

    In any case, I can see Apple not releasing a patch for six months bothering you, but Apple doesn't exactly have control over the severity of exploits found.

    CmdPrompt on
    GxewS.png
  • PeregrineFalconPeregrineFalcon Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    CmdPrompt wrote: »
    naengwen wrote: »
    There's 2 things about this that bug me:
    1) It actually works. Take the "say" command, replace it with your favorite "rm" command, and stick it on a popular site. One password entry later, your hard drive's gone.
    Why would this bug you? Most exploits are exploits because they work. :|

    Because it's an open-palmed full-force slap to the face of the Macs never get exploits hurr durr crowd?

    If there are people who actually think like this, then I'm baffled. Macs always get exploits, I read about them online and in Apple's security patch release notes. They just never seem to get widespread, malicious worms/viruses based on said exploits. I don't know why, you'd think the perceived smugness (which isn't a legitimate representation of most Mac users) would be enough to drive some malware developers to kick over a sandcastle or two.

    Botnets are serious fucking business. Big companies keep talking about having a cluster of computers that can be hired out for distributed computing - I say, "Hi, welcome to the bot industry." They'd rather grab the big market for maximum ROI - ergo, the Macs get ignored at large.

    It would truly have to be a "kick sand in their face" attitude that would fuel a Mac Attack. So I guess they're left alone mostly because they're not important enough to target. :P

    PeregrineFalcon on
    Looking for a DX:HR OnLive code for my kid brother.
    Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
  • naengwennaengwen Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    CmdPrompt wrote: »
    naengwen wrote: »
    Yeah, but in this case, it "just works."

    Really though, let me rephrase: it's the severity of the exploit which bugs me. We've seen OS X exploits publicized in the past, sure, but I don't think any of them have been quite as serious as this one.
    Well, no, not really.

    In any case, I can see Apple not releasing a patch for six months bothering you, but Apple doesn't exactly have control over the severity of exploits found.

    Really? Huh, I didn't realize advisories had been posted a week before the patch, I only heard about it after.

    And yes, Apple doesn't have control over exploits found, that is true. I suppose it's more the focus of the situation than anything else. I'm not happy with how Java is on OS X, and I doubt anyone else is either. I can only hope Apple thinks hard about reconsidering their deal with Sun when their own apathy towards Java begins to compromise one of their Operating System's most coveted features.

    naengwen on
  • TL DRTL DR Not at all confident in his reflexive opinions of thingsRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Obs wrote: »
    Hooray, so an exploit was fixed.


    Unlike on a PC, where they just get shoved under a rug.
    Unfortunately, it seems that many Mac OS X security issues are ignored if the severity of the issue is not adequately demonstrated. Due to the fact that an exploit for this issue is available in the wild, and the vulnerability has been public knowledge for six months

    Doing it wrong.

    TL DR on
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