Disclosure of information vulnerability in Safari web browser

http://brian.mastenbrook.net/ ^ | Jan. 14, 2009 | Brian Mastenbrook

[smokingfrog]

Note: The original version of this page contained a simple workaround for this issue which I believed would protect users against this problem. I have since discovered (on 13 January 2009) that changing the default RSS feed reader application in Safari does not correctly disassociate Safari from all RSS feed URLs. The workaround section of this post has been updated with additional information. I regret that what initially appeared to be a simple workaround is now substantially more complicated and requires the installation of third-party software to perform. I have discovered that Apple's Safari browser is vulnerable to an attack that allows a malicious web site to read files on a user's hard drive without user intervention. This can be used to gain access to sensitive information stored on the user's computer, such as emails, passwords, or cookies that could be used to gain access to the user's accounts on some web sites. The vulnerability has been acknowledged by Apple.

All users of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard who have not performed the workaround steps listed below are affected, regardless of whether they use any RSS feeds. Users of previous versions of Mac OS X are not affected.

Users of Firefox, Camino, and Opera on Mac OS X are substantially better protected against exploitation by a malicious web page than users of Safari or OmniWeb. If users of these browsers are asked to open a link in Safari, they should not allow the request and close the page which triggered the request immediately. All users of Mac OS X may still be affected by clicking on a malicious link from their email client, instant messaging program, or another application, and should perform the workaround steps given below.

[smokingfrog]

Apple has not made information available on when a fix for this issue will be released.