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Apple hunts down Win and Mac flavoured Safari flaws

Return of the Mac attack Trojan

John Leyden Wed 12 Aug 2009 // 12:28 UTC

Apple has patched six security holes in its Safari web browser software.

Safari version 4.0.3 fixes separate buffer overflow bugs in the CoreGraphics and ImageIO components of the Windows version of the browser that each create a critical code injection risk. In each case, visiting a maliciously crafted website with an unpatched browser creates a drive-by download risk.

Mac users also need to update to Safari version 4.0.3 because of a critical WebKit vuln, which poses a similar 'visit a hacker-controlled website and get pwned' danger. The Mac version of the browser also fixes two lesser WebKit flaws, while a problem that means a maliciously crafted website may get promoted into Safari's at-a-glance Top Sites view is fixed in both Win and Mac flavours of Safari.

The Mac and Windows updates to Safari also fix various stability and compatibility bugs as explained in more depth in Apple's advisory here, and a bulletin from the Internet Storm Centre here.

In almost related Apple security news, Trend Micro warned on Tuesday about a Trojan horse for Mac OS X that changes DNS settings. The malware comes disguised as a MacCinema Installer.

Once infected, a victim’s surfing can be hijacked and redirected towards websites selected by hackers. The malware - dubbed JAHLAV-D by Trend - is the latest variant in a Mac family previously last spotted back in June.

Windows malware strains dwarf Mac virus variants by several orders of magnitude, but that's not to say that Mac malware doesn't exist. VXers are taking more interest in Macs as the platform has grown in popularity. ®

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