4 X Security Team

Researchers from Intego have intercepted a new scareware sample targeting the MAC OS X.

Named the MACDefender, the scareware sample shows a bogus interface, insisting that the end user is infected, and that their OS is in an insecure state. The researchers emphasize on the social engineering elements of the scareware, including the fact that although the site shows a fake Windows screen, the scareware itself is a well designed Mac application with no spelling or grammar mistakes in its description.

The scareware will periodically open pornographic content on the affected Mac, in order to trick the users into thinking they’re infected with malware. The scareware is sold for $59,95, part of a scareware affiliate network targeting Mac OS X users in particular.

Users are advised to exercise extra caution when dealing with suspicious downloads, especially ones delivered through blackhat search engine optimization techniques.

[Source: zdnet]

Less than a week after warning that hackers were embedding malicious Flash Player files (.swf) into Microsoft Word documents to launch targeted malware attacks, Adobe plans to release an emergency Flash Player patch today to fix the underlying problem.

The patch will fix a “critical” vulnerability in Flash Player 10.2.153.1 and earlier versions for Windows, Mac OS X Linux and Solaris.

According to this Secunia advisory, the flaw allows a hacker to completely hijack a vulnerable Windows computer:

A vulnerability has been reported in Adobe Flash Player, which can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a user’s system.

The vulnerability is caused due to an error when parsing ActionScript that adds a custom function to the prototype of a predefined class. This results in incorrect interpretation of an object (i.e. object type confusion) when calling the custom function, which causes an invalid pointer to be dereferenced.

Secunia has posted a technical analysis of the flaw as well.

Adobe has confirmed that the vulnerability (CVE-2011-0611) could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.

There are reports that this vulnerability is being exploited in the wild in targeted attacks via a malicious Web page or a Flash (.swf) file embedded in a Microsoft Word (.doc) or Microsoft Excel (.xls) file delivered as an email attachment, targeting the Windows platform. At this time, Adobe is not aware of any attacks via PDF targeting Adobe Reader and Acrobat. Adobe Reader X Protected Mode mitigations would prevent an exploit of this kind from executing.

A patch for Google Chrome users is already available in Chrome version 10.0.648.205.

Adobe plans to fix the vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader at a later date.

[Source: zdnet]

The next batch of security patches from Oracle will be a biggie: 73 new security vulnerability fixes across hundreds of Oracle products.

According to an advance notice from the database server giant, some of the vulnerabilities affect multiple products and may be exploited over a network without the need for a username and password.

The patches, scheduled for release next Tuesday (April 19, 2011), will affect the following products and components:

Security vulnerabilities addressed by this Critical Patch Update affect the following products:

• Oracle Database 11g Release 2, versions 11.2.0.1, 11.2.0.2
• Oracle Database 11g Release 1, version 11.1.0.7
• Oracle Database 10g Release 2, versions 10.2.0.3, 10.2.0.4, 10.2.0.5
• Oracle Database 10g Release 1, version 10.1.0.5
• Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g Release 1, versions 11.1.1.2.0, 11.1.1.3.0, 11.1.1.4.0
• Oracle Application Server 10g Release 3, version 10.1.3.5.0
• Oracle Application Server 10g Release 2, version 10.1.2.3.0
• Oracle Identity Management 10g, versions 10.1.4.0.1, 10.1.4.3
• Oracle JRockit, versions R27.6.8 and earlier (JDK/JRE 1.4.2, 5, 6), R28.1.1 and earlier (JDK/JRE 5, 6)
• Oracle Outside In Technology, versions 8.3.2.0, 8.3.5.0
• Oracle WebLogic Server, versions 8.1.6, 9.2.3, 9.2.4, 10.0.2, 11gR1 (10.3.2, 10.3.3, 10.3.4)
• Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12, versions 12.0.6, 12.1.1, 12.1.2, 12.1.3
• Oracle E-Business Suite Release 11i, version 11.5.10.2
• Oracle Agile Technology Platform, versions 9.3.0.2, 9.3.1
• Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise CRM, version 8.9
• Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise ELS, versions 9.0, 9.1
• Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise HRMS, versions 9.0, 9.1
• Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise Portal, versions 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, 9.1
• Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise People Tools, versions 8.49, 8.50, 8.51
• Oracle JD Edwards OneWorld Tools, version 24.1.x
• Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Tools, version 8.98.x
• Oracle Siebel CRM Core, versions 7.8.2, 8.0.0, 8.1.1
• Oracle InForm, versions 4.5, 4.6, 5.0
• Oracle Sun Product Suite
• Oracle Open Office, version 3 and StarOffice/StarSuite, versions 7, 8

The highest CVSS 2.0 Base Score for vulnerabilities in this Critical Patch Update is 10.0 for Oracle JRockit of Oracle Fusion Middleware and Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server, Sun Java System Application Server of Oracle Sun Products Suite, the company said.

“Due to the threat posed by a successful attack, Oracle strongly recommends that customers apply Critical Patch Update fixes as soon as possible.

[Source: zdnet]

Apple has released a critical update for its flagship iOS mobile operating system to fix several gaping security holes, including a few that were used in successful exploits at this year’s CanSecWest Pwn2Own contest.

The new iOS 4.3.2 software update, which is available for download via iTunes, provides cover for five documented security problems, including vulnerabilities exploited by Charlie Miller (iPhone) and a team of researchers who broke into RIM’s BlackBerry smartphone.

The raw details:

• QuickLook: A memory corruption issue existed in QuickLook’s handling of Microsoft Office files. Viewing a maliciously crafted Microsoft Office file may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Credit to Charlie Miller and Dion Blazakis working with TippingPoint’s Zero Day Initiative.
• WebKit: An integer overflow issue existed in the handling of nodesets. Visiting a maliciously crafted website may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Credit to Vincenzo Iozzo, Willem Pinckaers, Ralf-Philipp Weinmann, and an anonymous researcher working with TippingPoint’s Zero Day Initiative.
• WebKit: A use after free issue existed in the handling of text nodes. Visiting a maliciously crafted website may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Credit to Vupen Security working with TippingPoint’s Zero Day Initiative, and Martin Barbella.

The iOS update also fixes the Comodo certificate trust policy problem that allowed an attacker with a privileged network position to intercept user credentials or other sensitive information. This issue was also fixed in separate Safari and Mac OS X updates.

[Source: zdnet]

Adobe’s Shockwave Player contains a critical vulnerability that could be exploited by remote hackers to take complete control of Windows computers, according to a warning from the software maker.

The flaw affects Adobe Shockwave Player 11.5.0.596 and earlier versions. Details from Adobe’s advisory:

This vulnerability could allow an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability to take control of the affected system. Adobe has provided a solution for the reported vulnerability (CVE-2009-1860). This issue was previously resolved in Shockwave Player 11.0.0.465; the Shockwave Player 11.5.0.600 update resolves a backwards compatibility mode variation of the issue with Shockwave Player 10 content. To resolve this issue, Shockwave Player users on Windows should uninstall Shockwave version 11.5.0.596 and earlier on their systems, restart, and install Shockwave version 11.5.0.600, available here: http://get.adobe.com/shockwave/. This issue is remotely exploitable.

Adobe boasts that 450 million Internet-enabled desktops have installed Adobe Shockwave Player.

[Source: zdnet]

Hackers can create malicious podcasts to hijack usernames and passwords from Apple’s iTunes software.

According to a warning from Apple, a “design issue” in the iTunes podcast feature can be abused via rigged audio files to cause an authentication dialog to be presented to the user. From that dialog, a hacker can hijack iTunes credentials and upload it to the podcast server.

[ SEE: Apple plugs gaping iTunes hole, doesn't tell everyone ]

From Apple’s advisory:

• A design issue exists in the iTunes podcast feature. A subscription to a malicious podcast may cause an authentication dialog to be presented to the user. This dialog may entice the user to send iTunes credentials to the podcast server.

Apple has shipped a patch in iTunes 8.1 to clarify the origin of the authentication request in the dialog box.

The iTunes update also corrects a denial-of-service flaw that can be caused via maliciously crafted DAAP messages.

• An infinite loop exists in the handling of iTunes Digital Audio Access Protocol (DAAP) messages. Sending a message containing a maliciously crafted Content-Length parameter in the DAAP header may lead to a denial of service. This update addresses the issue by performing additional validation of DAAP messages.

The denial -of-service bug does not affect Mac OS X systems.

[Source: zdnet]

After weeks of swinging and missing on proper response to a gaping security hole in its ever-present PDF Reader software, Adobe has finally shipped a patch but only for some affected users.

On the same day Microsoft issued its scheduled batch of patches, Adobe dropped a security bulletin warning of a “critical” vulnerability in Adobe Reader 9 and Acrobat 9 and earlier versions. However, if you are a user of one of those “earlier versions,” you’ll have to wait at least for another week.

[ SEE: Adobe swings and misses as PDF abuse worsens ]

The Adobe bulletin explains the severity:

• This vulnerability would cause the application to crash and could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system. There are reports that this issue is being exploited.

Only Adobe Reader 9 and Acrobat 9 is patched.

• Adobe is planning to make available updates for Adobe Reader 7 and 8, and Acrobat 7 and 8, by March 18. In addition, Adobe plans to make available Adobe Reader 9.1 for Unix by March 25.

ALSO SEE:

Unofficial ‘patch’ for Adobe Reader, Acrobat zero-day

[Source: zdnet]