Apple patches security holes in Safari browser
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Yesterday, Cupertino, California-based computer company Apple released version 4.0.4 of Safari, its web browser available for Mac, PC, and iPhone operating systems.
The update plugs what are thought to be moderate-to-serious security flaws in the browser, though CNET News notes that Apple does not rate the severity of vulnerabilities like Microsoft and Google. PC Magazine writes that two out of the seven flaws addressed are capable of remote code execution, the prerequisite for malicious takeovers of malware-infected PCs.
Malicious XML, FTP and image content can be crafted to crash or exploit Windows and Mac versions of Safari, in addition to causing unpredictable network security threats when visiting other websites. Only Windows versions of Safari are susceptible to the embedded image color profile trick, while an exploit that could allow email to remotely access audio and video content affects Macs only.
The patch comes amid a rare uptick in security news about Apple products, with a pair of iPhone worms hitting the network and a large-scale patch for the company's operating systems making headlines over the past several days.
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