Hacker Project Puts Spotlight Back on Mac Security

Thu, November 02, 2006

The security of Apple Computer’s wireless drivers is under scrutiny again, thanks to a new hacker project.

On Wednesday, HD Moore posted code that exploits a flaw in the Proxim Wireless Orinoco wireless cards used by PowerBook and iMac computers built between 1999 and 2003, according to Moore.

Apple said the issue "affects a small percentage of previous generation AirPort enabled Macs and does not affect currently shipping or AirPort Extreme enabled Macs," according to a statement issued Wednesday.

The code was posted on a new blog called the Month of Kernel Bugs. It is modeled on Moore’s own Month of Browser Bugs project, which disclosed one new browser vulnerability per day during July.

The kernel bug project was launched with a reference to a controversy over Apple’s products, kicked off at the Black Hat USA conference three months ago.

"With all the hype and buzz about the now infamous Apple wireless device driver bugs ... hopefully this will bring some light (better said, proof) about the existence of such flaws in the Airport device drivers," wrote the blog’s author, a hacker going by the name of LMH.

In August, security researchers David Maynor and Jon Ellch claimed to have discovered a flaw that affected Apple’s wireless device drivers. They played a video demonstrating how this flaw could be used to run unauthorized code on a MacBook at Black Hat, but their claims have been criticized because their demonstration used a third-party wireless card rather than the one that ships with the MacBook, and because the two hackers have not published the code used in their attack.

Apple later said that Maynor’s employer, SecureWorks, had "not shared or demonstrated any code in relation to the Black Hat-demonstrated exploit that is relevant to the hardware and software that we ship."

A month later, Apple patched a number of flaws in its wireless products and soon after announced that it was working with SecureWorks on security issues.

-Robert McMillan, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau)

Related Links:

Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage.

You are here: Technology Topics » Security » News Feature

Most Recent Intrusion Stories

White Papers »

Overcome Top 7 Admin Challenges of Active Directory

As Active Directory's role in the enterprise has drastically increased, so has the need to secure the data. Gain insight on creating repeatable, enforceable processes that reduces administrative overhead and enables robust, customizable reporting and auditing capabilities. Brought to you by NetIQ.

Top Solutions and Tools to Prevent Devastating Malware

Custom malware frequently goes undetected. According to Forrester Research, the best way to reduce risk of breach is to deploy file integrity monitoring (FIM) tools that provide immediate alerts. This white paper has been brought to you by NetIQ, the leader in solving complex IT challenges.

Insiders Can Ruin Your Company. Take Action.

Did you know that 80 percent of threats to an organization come from the inside? The threat from insiders is often overlooked in organizations worldwide. This white paper from NetIQ, discusses key technology solutions that help to prevent and detect insider threats.

X-Ray of the PCI Process-4 Proactive Steps

This white paper from Forrester Research Inc., helps break PCI into understandable components. Security and risk professionals will gain knowledge and insight into creating a compliant and secure IT environment. Follow these four proactive steps now before your next audit. Brought to you by NetIQ.

Streamline Compliance and Increase ROI

Streamline, simplify, and automate compliance related activities; especially those that impact multiple business units. This white paper from NetIQ, outlines solutions that will help your business gain the maximum return on investment possible while aligning your compliance programs.

Identity Governance: The Business Imperatives

This white paper describes the business challenges and opportunities that are driving interest in Identity Governance while discussing considerations your organization should make to help achieve project success.

Webcasts »

Gartner Next Generation Network IPS Webcast

Learn how Gartner's criteria for next generation IPS helps organizations achieve effective threat prevention despite changes in network communications, new applications, and changes in the threat landscape.

McAfee Continuous Compliance

3 minute Flash video - overview of the need for and value of Configuration Control.

Taming the Wild West: How to build a strong cloud security strategy

Cloud deployments are playing a critical role in propelling innovation for many companies. At the same time security has become the #1 one of the top concerns for IT and business leaders as they migrate into the cloud. In this webinar, learn from Accenture discusses how to recast the cloud as a "fresh chance to rethink your approach to security."

Virtualization Success is a Team Effort

As greater numbers of datacenter servers transition from the physical to the virtual world, the components of virtualization success come to the fore. What scores of organizations have discovered is that success is derived from an optimal pairing of the right software platform with the right hardware platform.

Customer Spotlight: How IPC The Hospitalist Company Implemented Oracle on VMware

Have you been looking to hear about customer's experiences with the new VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager product? View this webcast to learn about VMware customer, Navicure, and their experiences testing and evaluating the recovery manager, their progress in implementing it in their environment and their advice other customers considering using vCenter.

Quantifying the Business Value of VMware View - Webcast

Many enterprises have discovered that the use of virtualization to support desktop workloads creates a range of significant benefits. These benefits include price efficiencies, improved IT management and greater agility and choice for end users.

This VMware sponsored webcast with IDC will provide both quantitative measurement of the business value -- defined as the expected ROI -- and qualitative analysis associated with the use of VMware View™. IDC will also provide an analysis of the View Composer and ThinApp™ features of VMware View, including the business value of these solutions and an overview of how they work.

Attend this webcast to learn about:
- Challenges and barriers that might impede the adoption of desktop virtualization
- Navigating roadblocks to facilitate a strategic implementation
- Optimizing qualitative and quantitative benefits to IT and your business

Newsletter Sign-Up »

Receive the latest news test, reviews and trends on your favorite technology topics

Choose a newsletter