Latest OS X Java Updates Prevent Code Execution

Summary:

• This vulnerability affects: OS X 10.5.x (Leopard) and 10.6.x (Snow Leopard)
• How an attacker exploits it: By enticing your users to a malicious website containing specially crafted Java applets
• Impact: In the worst case, an attacker executes code on your user’s computer, with that user’s privileges
• What to do: Install Java for OS X 10.5 Update 9 or Java for OS X 10.6 Update 4 as soon as possible, or let Apple’s updater do it for you.

Exposure:

Today, Apple issued two advisories [ 1 / 2 ] describing Java security updates for OS X 10.5.x and OS X 10.6.x. The advisories warn of 16 vulnerabilities in OS X’s Java components (number based on CVE-IDs).

Apple doesn’t describe these flaws in specific detail, rather, they only share the  potential impact of the worst case flaw. By luring one of your users to a malicious website containing a specially crafted Java applet, an attacker can exploit some of these Java flaws to either execute code or elevate privileges on your users’ OS X computers. In most cases, the attacker would only gain the privileges of the currently logged in user, which doesn’t include root or administrator access in OS X. Nonetheless, we recommend you install Apple’s OS X Java update as soon as possible.

Solution Path:

Apple has issued Java for OS X 10.5 Update 9 [dmg file] and Java for OS X 10.6 Update 4 [dmg file] to correct these flaws. If you manage OS X 10.5.x or 10.6.x computers, we recommend you download and deploy these update as soon as possible, or let OS X’s automatic Software Update utility install the proper update for you.

For All WatchGuard Users:

Some of these attacks rely on one of your users visiting a web page containing malicious Java bytecode. The HTTP-Proxy policy that ships with most Firebox models automatically blocks Java bytecode by default, which somewhat mitigates the risk posed by some of these vulnerabilities.

Status:

Apple has released Java updates to fix these issues.

References:

• Apple’s OS X 10.5 Java Update 9 advisory
• Apple’s OS X 10.6 Java Update 4 advisory
• Apple software downloads
• Apple security updates

This alert was researched and written by Corey Nachreiner, CISSP.

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