Alert

Apple Mac Products Affected by Multiple Vulnerabilities

Last Revised
Alert Code
TA06-214A

Systems Affected

  • Apple Mac OS X version 10.3.9 and earlier (Panther)
  • Apple Mac OS X version 10.4.7 and earlier (Tiger)
  • Apple Mac OS X Server version 10.3.9 and earlier
  • Apple Mac OS X Server version 10.4.7 and earlier
  • Apple Safari web browser
  • Apple Mail

Overview

Apple has released Security Update 2006-004
to correct multiple vulnerabilities affecting Mac OS X, Mac OS X
Server, Safari web browser, Mail, and other products. The most serious
of these vulnerabilities may allow a remote attacker to execute
arbitrary code. Impacts of other vulnerabilities include bypass of
security restrictions and denial of service.

Description

Apple Security Update 2006-004
resolves a number of vulnerabilities affecting Mac OS X, OS X Server,
Safari web browser, Mail, and other products. Further details are
available in the individual Vulnerability
Notes
.

This security update addresses vulnerabilities in a range of
different components, including the handling of a number of different
image file formats, ZIP archive files, and HTML web pages, among
others.

Impact

The impacts of these vulnerabilities vary. For information about
specific impacts, please see the Vulnerability
Notes
. Potential consequences include remote execution of
arbitrary code or commands, bypass of security restrictions, and
denial of service.

Solution

Install an update

Install Apple Security Update 2006-004. This and other updates are available via Apple Update.

Workaround

Disable "Open 'safe' files after downloading"

For additional protection, disable the Safari web browser option to
"Open 'safe' files after downloading," as specified in "Securing
Your Web Browser
."

Note that this workaround will not mitigate
all of the vulnerabilities described in the Apple Security Update,
only those which are exacerbated by the default behavior of the Safari
web browser.


Appendix A. References


These vulnerabilities were reported in Apple Security Update 2006-004. Please
see the Vulnerability Notes for individual reporter acknowledgements.

Revision History

  • August 02, 2006: Initial release

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