Angered by Apple delay, hacker posts Mac Java attack
In an effort to draw attention to an long-standing security problem in Apple's Mac OS X operating system, a security researcher has posted attack code that exploits the flaw.
The software, which could be used by hackers to run an unauthorized system on a Mac, was posted Tuesday by Landon Fuller, a security researcher in San Francisco. It exploits a nasty bug in the Java software that ships with Mac OS X. This bug was fixed by Java's creator, Sun Microsystems, on Dec. 3, but Apple has still not included the fix in its software updates.
"Unfortunately, it seems that many Mac OS X security issues are ignored if the severity of the issue is not adequately demonstrated," Fuller wrote in a blog posting describing the issue. "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, I have decided to release my own proof of concept."
Fuller's proof of concept code runs Mac's Say software to make the computer say "I'm executing an innocuous user process", but it could be adapted by criminals to run malicious programs on the computer.
Security vendor SecureMac advises Mac users to disable Java in their Web browser until Apple fixes the issue. "This vulnerability could be exploited to perform 'drive-by-downloads' commonly used as a means to infect computers with spyware, or any arbitrary command with the permissions of the executing user," the company said in a note on its Web site. "All a user has to do is visit a web page hosting a malicious Java applet to be exploited."
Apple would not say when it plans to patch the bug, but a company spokeswoman said Wednesday that Apple is "aware of the issue and we are working on a fix." The company released security updates for its Mac OS software just last week.
IDG News Service
Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world
On Twitter now
java
Powered by Twitter
jfruh
Apple syncing patent can't come soon enough
pasmith
New Twitter features borrow from 3rd party clients
Esther Schindler
Open Source Changes the Software Acquisition Process
mikelgan
How to set up continuous podcast play on the new iTunes
David Strom
Five important Windows 7 mobility features
sjvn
Guard your Wi-Fi for your own sake
Sandra Henry-Stocker
Grepping on Whole Words
Sidekick: The Good News & the Bad News
Either way you look at it Microsoft Data Center management did not follow standards or best practices in this failure. In which case it makes me wonder more about the outsourcing of corporate data much less personal data.
- mburton325
Join the conversation here
Quick, practical advice for IT pros. Made fresh daily.
Want to cash in on your IT savvy? Send your tip to tips@itworld.com. If we post it, we'll send you a $25 Amazon e-gift card.













My PC is running like new.
I was having trouble with my new computer running slow after I had only had it for a few months. I was upset thinking it was something wrong with my computer until I realized that I needed a good scan to clean out those bugs and viruses that was the real problem. When I started using Search-and-destroy Antispyware it took care of this problem and now my PC is running like new again. The antispyware solution from Search-and-destroy, which you can find at http://www.Search-and-destroy.com, has made a big difference for me and I’m sure you’ll be happy with it too.ugg boots
UGG Boots is one of the most popular boots in the fashion realm, and it also the must-have item in the cold winter to keep your foot warm, have a pair of sheepskin UGG Boots as the gift also the great point, so, why you still hesitate, follow me!