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Apple Posts Security Updates for OS X, iOS, and Safari

Corey Nachreiner

Severity: High

Summary:

Exposure:

Yesterday, Apple released three security updates to fix many vulnerabilities in OS X, iOS, and Safari (Mac version only). Like the iTunes patch from last week, these updates fix an unusually large number of vulnerabilities. For instance, the iOS update fixes around 197 flaws, many of them affecting the Webkit component.  If you use Mac computers, or iOS devices, you should apply these significant updates quickly. I quickly summarize Apple’s three alerts below:

If you paid attention to Apple’s iPhone 5 announcement last week, you may also have been excited about iOS 6, which they posted yesterday. If iOS 6’s new features weren’t enough to sell you on the new firmware, Apple’s iOS 6 security alert should close the deal. According to Apple’s alert, iOS 6 fixes around 197 security vulnerabilities. The flaws differ widely, but attackers can exploit the worst of them to execute arbitrary code on your iOS devices. The attacker only has to lure you to a site containing malicious content, or entice you to interact which some sort of file (whether it be an image, movie, or config file). If you have an iPhone, iPod, or iPad, you should update it to iOS 6 as quickly as possible. See Apple’s security update if you want more details on the individual flaws, including their CVE numbers.
WatchGuard rating: Critical

Apple also released a huge OS X security update to fix vulnerabilities in all current versions of OS X. The almost 700MB patch fixes about 35 (number based on CVE-IDs) security issues in many components that ship as part of OS X or OS X Server, including QuickTime, the Kernel, and BIND. Again, the flaws differ in scope and impact, but the worst allow attackers to execute code with your privileges simply by enticing you into viewing malicious file or web content. Furthermore, some of the Kernel flaws allow attackers to elevate their privilege, gaining complete control of your computer. If you use a Mac, you should install the update as quickly as you can. See Apple’s alert for more detail on each flaw.
WatchGuard rating: Critical

Finally, Apple also released an update to fix about 60 security flaws in Safari for Mac (Apple seems to have discontinued supporting Safari for Windows). Many of these flaws are the same Webkit component issues that Apple recently patched in iTunes. Like those flaw, by enticing you to a web site containing malicious code, attackers can execute code with your privileges. Many of the vulnerabilities are ideal for drive-by download attacks. Again, if you have a Mac, I recommend you patch Safari, even if you don’t use it as your primary browser.
WatchGuard rating: Critical

Solution Path:

Apple has released update for all these products. If you use Mac computers, or iOS devices, you should download and install the updates as soon as you can, or let Apple’s Software Updater do it for you. That said, the OS X update is rather large, and will require a reboot, so plan that update accordingly.  Personally, I have had few issues with Apple’s Automatic Updater. I recommend you use the Automatic Updater to download and remind you of patches regularly, at least on your client machines (you may need to plan your OS X server updates more carefully).

For All WatchGuard Users:

Attackers can exploit these flaws using diverse exploitation methods. A properly configured UTM appliance can help mitigate the risk of some of these issues. That said, it cannot protect you from local attacks, nor can it prevent attacks that leverage normal HTTP traffic. Therefore, installing Apple’s updates are your best solution.

Status:

Apple has released patches correcting these issues.

References:

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

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