Apple Patches Flaws in Xcode, Windows Software

Apple has updated its Xcode integrated development environment (IDE) and the Windows versions of iTunes and iCloud to address a dozen vulnerabilities affecting these products.

The company updated Xcode to version 8.1 to address ten security holes that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution or to cause an application crash.

The update fixes vulnerabilities in Node.js and OpenSSL, mostly issues patched in 2015 and early 2016. Apple said it updated the Node.js version used in Xcode Server to 4.5.0, which became available in mid-August.

With the release of iTunes 12.5.2 and iCloud 6.0.1 for Windows, Apple patched a couple of vulnerabilities in the WebKit web browser engine.

One of the flaws, discovered by Chris Palmer and tracked as CVE-2016-4613, can lead to disclosure of user information. The second issue, discovered by Apple and identified as CVE-2016-7578, can lead to arbitrary code execution. Both vulnerabilities can be exploited through processing of specially crafted web content.

The information disclosure flaw was also resolved earlier this week in Safari and tvOS. The code execution bug also affects iOS and it was addressed on Monday with the release of version 10.1.

The updates released by Apple on Monday fix tens of vulnerabilities in iOS, macOS Sierra, Safari, tvOS, and watchOS. Some of the flaws affecting iOS of OS X can easily be exploited by attackers with specially crafted JPEG, font, PDF and archive files.

Security updates issued by Apple in late August and early September for OS X, iOS and Safari addressed three zero-day vulnerabilities that had been exploited via a high-end surveillance solution in attacks aimed at human rights activists and journalists.

Apple could soon release another iOS update to patch vulnerabilities exploited by Tencent KeenLab researchers at the 2016 Mobile Pwn2Own competition to install a rogue application on an iPhone 6S. While their attempt was only partially successful due to a default configuration setting that prevented persistence after a reboot of the device, the hackers still earned $60,000 for their effort.

Related: macOS 10.12 Patches Over 60 Vulnerabilities

Related: Apple Patches 7 Flaws With Release of iOS 10

Related: Apple Offers up to $200,000 in Bug Bounty Program

view counter
image
Previous Columns by Eduard Kovacs:
Tags:
Original author: Eduard Kovacs