Apple patches critical hole in QuickTime
Mac OS X open to hacker control.
By Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service | Published: 13:37, 24 January 2007
Apple has patched a vulnerability in QuickTime that could give a hacker control over a computer three weeks after it was first exposed.
The problem is a buffer overflow that can occur when QuickTime processes a RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) URL, which directs the player to a streaming file and allows a user to play and pause it.
A hacker could create a malicious RTSP URL embedded in a Web page that opens a door for other harmful code to run on a machine, Apple said. The patch comes more than three weeks after researchers who are part of the Month of Apple Bugs (MOAB) project published exploit code.
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Danish security vendor Secunia has labelled the problem critical. Apple said the problem affects QuickTime 7.1.3 on Mac OS X 10.3.9, Mac OS X Server 10.3.9, Mac OS X 10.4.8, Mac OS X Server 10.4.8 and Windows XP and 2000.
The patch is available through Apple's download page, or through Apple's Software Update service.
Last month, hackers exploited a feature in QuickTime and used it in combination with a cross-scripting problem on MySpace.com to create a virulent worm that quickly spread on the social networking website. The worm distributed advertising software and stole login credentials. Apple issued a fix that blocked the code.
