Mac-Security Blog Status Report 2012-11

--
Apologies to regular readers of this blog. I've been extremely distracted by a multitude of personal stuff that has a higher priority. Therefore, I'm extremely behind keeping up with current Mac computer security.

I also have to admit to burnout from having to deal with the current state of computer security in general. The current state of overall computer security is: ABYSMAL.

Then add to that a consistent, dare I say totalitarian inspired, interest by our Corporate Oligarchy and the governments they puppet, as well as other lunatic organizations (such as the Communist party in China) to SURVEIL our every move on the Internet to our detriment and their deceitful gain. Not good. I'm no fan of FUD or paranoia. So when this rubbish thinking becomes justified, it's annoying.

When I started this blog back in 2007, the entire point was to create the first, one simple place to keep up with Mac computer security. I was hoping it would only be the first and there would be other, far more professional locations where all of us could keep up with Mac security. I've run into one other person with the same goal as myself. Just one! That is Thomas Reed of "Thomas' Tech Corner".

Thomas and I are part of a great group of writers, developers and tech fanatics who study, work with and chat about Mac computer security. Our group was started by ClamXav mastermind and altruistic developer Mark Allan. As a gestalt, we attempt to keep track of exactly what is going on with Mac security over time. We also work HARD to keep the ClamAV malware definitions up-to-date with all the Mac malware definitions, with only partial success.

I'm going to be collaborating with Thomas to create ongoing lists of active malware for Mac to share here and at Thomas's site.

But both of us are finding the task of creating a complete list to be EXTREMELY daunting. The reason why is complex. But the worse reason is specifically because ALL of the commercial anti-malware development companies treat malware as if it was their personal property, go get your own, we're not sharing. Therefore, it is IMPOSSIBLE to know all the current Mac malware. I find that to be idiotic, unprofessional and shocking. No surprise around here.

Here's a fun example:
I have in my possession one piece of malware that NO ONE has made public. It is not universally identified among the Mac anti-malware vendors. It is a root kit. Root kits are potentially the most dangerous form of malware for computers because they actively hide from any form of malware detection. Our group is still trying to make heads or tails about what's going on with this specific malware. I can tell you that it is detected by at least Intego's Virus Barrier X6 as 'Rubilyn.A' but is also known as 'Xorsysct!.A'. Why isn't this root kit public knowledge? Beats me! Intego has published nothing about it. I tested the malware in VBX6 and was happy to find it detected. But they have nothing to share in public about it? Why? I am hoping that has changed by the time you read this blog entry.

This is only one example of many of what I am calling the 'SECRET MALWARE' bull shit going on within the anti-malware industry.

Let's go mental: Is this part of our well-known governmental attempt to circumvent US Constitutional rights to privacy via undetectable root kit malware? How the hell would I know? But that's what this industrial secrecy stinks of in my humble uninformed opinion. At the very least, it's more of the same old UNprofessional behavior I've found consistent within the anti-malware business.

Therefore, I'm getting burned out.

As a result, my future posts may not be as thorough, as frequent, or effective as in the past. I can't pretend to be fulfilling the manifesto for my blog.

You've probably heard all this sort of burn out blether-fest in the past from other information sources. Just know that I constantly have Mac security going on around my head because I enjoy the subject. I am selectively deciding what small contributions I can make via this blog to Mac user's understanding of Mac security. I'm sticking around, but not as effectively as I would prefer.

Therefore, I'm going to be putting together a list of my favorite Mac security information sources, such as Thomas's website, for your benefit. They're where I first go to learn what's going on. Hopefully, they will help fill in your need for knowledge of Mac security while I decrease down my involvement. Coming up next!

Thank you for your interest.

:-Derek Currie

--

Oracle Java For Mac FAIL x10, Installing Oracle's Version Of Java

--
[Updated 2012-10-23 @6:30 pm]

I have installed Oracle's Java for Mac. I now hate Oracle, seriously hate Oracle.

What's ahead is a long, nasty soap opera of FAIL. Let me save you time and cut to the quick:

Disabling Oracle's Java:

If you've installed the current version of Oracle's Java for OS X, v1.2 update 9, there is only one way to turn it off in your system: REMOVE IT from your root level Internet Plugins directory. Here's how:

1) Shut down your web browsers.

2) Navigate to:
/Library/Internet Plug-ins/

3) Remove/move these two files:

JavaAppletPlugin.plugin

JavaEmbeddingPlugin.bundle

I have set up a folder where I store them called 'Internet Plug-ins (disabled)'. You have to do the Admin authorization stuff to move these files around.

4) Start your web browser again and surf around, carefree, not worried that another Java sandbox security hole getting your Mac PWNed.

OR: You could turn Java off in all your web browsers.

Now leave Java off all the time unless you desperately need to use it, in which case, reverse the above process.

Here's a good ArsTechnica article about the current state of Java:

Ars asks: Is using Java on a desktop worth the security risks?

And now for:

The Long, Sad, Hatred-Of-Oracle Inspiring Story Of The Java For Mac FAIL:

A Frightening Cautionary Tale, Just In Time For Halloween:

[Please note that all the images in this article can be clicked to expand them to normal readable size.]

I had to visit my ISP's website last night in order to contact them regarding the catastrophic mess they had made of both my cable TV signal and my Internet bandwidth. Horror of horrors, their live online support interface requires Java. Here is what I saw when I tried to use their interface:

See that little button that says 'Get JRE Plugin'? This is the one Apple tells us to expect after we have uninstalled Java from our OS X 10.7 and 10.8 systems. If we wish to proceed and install Java, we click the button and are sent to the Oracle Java website to download the OS X Java installer.

Except THE BUTTON DOESN'T DO ANYTHING. I clicked away in Safari and nothing happened at all, ever. It doesn't work. It's inert. That's FAIL #1.

So I went over to Oracle's Java website all on my own, dug around for the version of Java they offer for OS X, and went into shock when I discovered that it was Java 1.7 update 6, an old crusty entirely UNSAFE, yer gonna get your Mac PWNed version. That's FAIL #2.

[NOTE, October 23rd Addendum: Immediately after I first posted this article, Oracle saw fit to remove the olde Java 1.7 update 6 installer and instead directly provide Java 1.7 update 9. Thank you to reader Franklin for bringing this to my attention. This negates 'FAIL #2'. However, if you scroll down to the Comments, you'll see that Oracle STILL has a bad web page, apparently from 1998 (!), that states Apple is going to provide a Java plug-in. I ran into this page using an ordinary, logical Google search of "oracle java for mac download". This bogus Oracle page was the #1 link result. Read it and weep:

Java Plug-In Mac Download Page 

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/mac-138071.html

What the?! I cannot comprehend how a company can be so incredibly careless. This ridiculously olde, decrepit page at Oracle constitutes the new FAIL #2. Therefore, I have not changed the title of this article. Hopefully Oracle will respond by pointing victims of this idiocy to the Java.com website where Oracle does indeed provide the latest version of Java's plug-in for Mac.]

But I downloaded and installed it anyway, hoping it would upgrade itself. I ran the installer. The first pane of the installer proclaims the following propaganda:

'Java provides safe and secure access to the world of amazing Java content.' blahblahblah.

Right. That's why Apple dumped Java and we had NO 'safe and secure' version of Java for the entirety of the summer of 2012 on into mid-October. Nice try Oracle. That's FAIL #3.

After the Java installation, thankfully it alerted me to download the latest updated version. Kewlness:

After the update installed, I tried to figure out how to set the Java preferences. There is NO 'Java Preferences' app in Utilities any more. Instead, Oracle installs a System Preferences pane in the root Library folder. I'd read about that being the case, so fine. This is what I saw when I opened the Java preferences pane:

'The Java Control Panel opens in a separate window.'

WHAT? Oracle were too lazy to write an actual preference pane? They think Macs still have 'control panels'? That's FAIL #4.

So, I waited around for the 'control panel' to decide to open, tickticktick, yawn, what's on TV, and then it shows up:

Fine, a common tabbed window for Mac. I started searching around for how to turn Java on and off, similar to what Apple's now defunct 'Java Preferences' app used to do. I discover what I wanted is under the ridiculously named 'Java' tab. What? Everything here is Java! Huh? That's FAIL #5.

The 'Java' (duh!) tab comes up and it looks like this:

Oh look, an award worthy user interface that does nothing-at-all but make you dig even deeper to actually get anywhere. That's FAIL #6.

I am forced to hit the 'View...' button in order to get past the bureaucracy. This is what appears:

Hey! A checkbox to uncheck! Yeah!

Except the checkbox is inert. Remember the earlier inert 'Get JRE Plugin' button! Winner programming here! And guess what! The corresponding checkboxes for BOTH 'User' and 'System' don't work! That's FAIL #7 and FAIL #8.

That's 8 Oracle Java FAILs. Eight. Not ready for prime time crapware: That's what this garbage is. That's why I now hate, seriously hate, Oracle. What incredibly lazy, careless, obtuse, inept, dumbass programmers from hell.

-> So what do you do when you want to turn Java OFF?!
See the start of this article for instructions.

To hell with Oracle. To hell with Java.

But we're not finished! Where are the more detailed security settings? Under the 'Security' tab? No! What you'll find there are settings for certificates. You want to go under the 'Advanced' tab, then scroll down to 'Security'. That's FAIL #9.

But first, look just above 'Security' and do this:

* Under 'Application Installation' you must choose 'Never install'.

Why? Because this specific setting stops DEAD the ability of drive-by malware to install itself onto your Mac via sandbox-broken Java. Could this cause a problem? Maybe. You might well find yourself scrambling to change this setting to 'Install if hinted' instead, but only on a website you TRUST. Otherwise, leave this set to 'Never install'. Please.

Now we at last get to the 'Security' settings. I suggest the following, with my added notes in brackets:

√ Allow user to grant permissions to signed content
- Allow user to grant permissions to content from an untrusted authority
√ Use certificates and keys in browser keystone
√ Don't prompt for client certificate selection when no certificates or only one exists
√ Warn if site certificate does not match hostename
- Show site certificate from server even if it is valid [Turning this on is fine]
√ Show sandbox warning banner
√ Allow user to accept JNLP Security requests
√ Check certificates for revocation using Certificate Revocation Lists (CRLs) [Shame on Oracle for not have this turned on by default! Dunderheads!]
√ Enable online certificate validation
√ Enable list of trusted publishers
√ Enable blacklist revocation check [of course!]
- Enable caching password for authentication [risky, not advisable]
...
√ Use SSL 3.0
...
√ Use TLS 1.2 [Yes, 1.2, not earlier. Again, shame on Oracle for not making this the default! Dummies!]

And now for our final FAIL. This one's worth a good laugh. Under 'Miscellaneous' it offers the checkbox "Place Java icon in system tray". It doesn't matter if you check in on or check it off. It doesn't do anything. It doesn't put a Java icon in your menu bar or anywhere else. It's total crap. Only Windows has a 'system tray'. So what's a Windows setting doing here on a Mac? It's just an excuse for Oracle to hand us an even 10 FAILs. 10 fingers, 10 toes, 10 FAILs. Whatever. Thanks for being so attentive to the OS X platform Oracle. I hate you.

[NOTE, October 23 Addendum: Reader Franklin kindly pointed out that the 'system tray' checkbox DOES do something. It puts a Java icon at the far right of the menu bar whenever Java is actually running on your Mac. Thus my hatred of, and low opinion of Oracle is slightly abated. However, lazily mis-naming the Mac menu bar, which was established by Apple over 10 years before the Windows 'system tray', still constitutes a remarkable FAIL by Oracle's programmers. Therefore, I continue to call this FAIL #10 and have not changed the title of the article. 

Please get with it and catch up Oracle. It's the "menu bar" and it is as old as the very first Macintosh computer, IOW 1984. Then add to that the fact that the "menu bar" also existed on the Apple LISA (1983)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_Lisa_Office_System_3.1.png

The menu bar is an Apple innovation and improvement upon the Xerox Star OS, which instead put the menu bar at the top of individual windows, as found in today's Microsoft Windows OS.]
--

Warning: Phishing Rats Want Your Apple ID

--
Today an article came to my attention that is of extreme relevance. It's about an ongoing Phishing Rat campaign using social engineering to steal Apple IDs. After all the intermittent reports I've heard about Apple IDs being stolen, including within my family (ahem), this appears to be the prime source of the problem:

Phishing for Apple IDs

The Websense® ThreatSeeker® Network has detected a phishing campaign whose potential victims are holders of an Apple ID account. . . . The phishing campaign begins with an email message like this one, informing the recipient of a "suspended" Apple ID...

Please read the article. Clearly this phishing campaign is a prime source of LUSER behavior leading to robbery of Apple accounts and everything that goes with them.

IF you receive one of these Apple ID 'suspended' phishing emails, please report it to:

reportphishing@apple.com

When you report phishing email, please be sure to include the entire email, including full headers, in your report to Apple. Reporting phishing email to the scammed company source is the best way to stop dead any phishing campaign. The entire Apple user community will appreciate your rat extermination assistance.

It is also useful to report phishing email as spam to your ISP or one of the spam blacklist websites, such as SpamCop.

Java Security Update! Apple's JRE 1.6 update 37 Is Available Today

--
[Updated 2012-10-17 @3:26 pm ET]

Be sure to update today to Apple's JRE (Java Runtime Engine) version 1.6 update 37. It restores Java for Mac back to secure usability, for the moment anyway. The update is available for OS X 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8.

This installer is DIFFERENT in that it REMOVES the Java plugin from Mac OS X. After the installation you will NOT be able to run Java in any OS X web browsers. Instead, when Java is required at a website, you will be offered the opportunity to download Oracle's version of the plugin. Here are Apple's provided notes about the installer:

Java for OS X 2012-006 delivers improved security, reliability, and compatibility by updating Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_37. 

This update uninstalls the Apple-provided Java applet plug-in from all web browsers. To use applets on a web page, click on the region labeled "Missing plug-in" to go download the latest version of the Java applet plug-in from Oracle.

Apple's 'About' pages regarding the Java updates for OS X 10.7 and 10.8 (but not 10.6) further point out that:

This update also removes the Java Preferences application, which is no longer required to configure applet settings.

You can check out a detailed analysis of the update by my colleague Topher Kessler at MacFixIt here:


Java Preferences missing after latest OS X Java update
While the Preferences utility is missing, this may be a simple oversight on Apple's part.

Cross your fingers and toes that the sandboxing in Java will stay fixed for the long term future and we won't have to worry about our Macs being PWNed simply because Java is running in our web browser.

If/when new Java security holes are discovered, I'll be posting here.

--

Danger! Security Hole In Firefox 16.0.0, Get 16.0.1 Update Now! (And assorted other stuff)

--
Hi Kids!

A quick note: Mozilla rapidly discovered a security hole in Firefox (and Thunderbird) version 16.0.0 on all platforms, including Android. Therefore, either download the latest update (currently 16.0.1) or allow Firefox (and Thunderbird) to update themselves immediately the next time you use them. You can read about the situation here:

https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2012/10/10/security-vulnerability-in-firefox-16/

Meanwhile:

1) Java Update WHEN?! 

It appears that Oracle are (irresponsibly, IMHO) going to wait until their scheduled Tuesday, October 16th date for updating Java to something safe. So watch for it that day specifically from Oracle. If you don't want or need to deal with the hassle of Oracle's clunky version, hang on until Apple provide their more OS X friendly version via Software Update / The App Store. Or better yet, write off Java as dangerous crapware and never use it again! We wish. Hopefully the current danger will end and we can all go back to simply swearing at Java for being so slow.

2) This is the weekend I am going to finish off my 2012 malware review. I'll start the list again from scratch for the sake of simplicity. We also have another couple new minor malware to add to the list. Also, I'm going to consign some further oldie stuff to the 'inert' bin, as you'll see. Thank you for waiting!

3) If you are not doing so already, go visit MacHeist.com and have some fun. MacHeist 4 is the BIGGEST and most fun Heist EVER. The free mission prizes are trés kewl. As of today we are starting on 'nanoMission 4'. So catch up and get some discount coins for The Big Heist coming up! MacHeist is seriously one of the most unique, fun and charitable events of the Mac platform. The missions have been astoundingly well designed with everything having a jaunty, puzzling and mysterious steampunk theme. There is nothing equivalent or as kewl on those other computer platforms! And it's all free! ...That is, until we get to the Big Final Heist. You shall crave to ogle the digital devices concealed within the confines of the culminating, capacious cyclopean vault...!
(0_0)

Share and Enjoy,

:-Derek
--

Java: Unsafe At Any Version: Sandboxing is essentially gone

--
According to the latest testing, there is no safe version of Java available. This affects Java versions 5, 6 and 7 in entirety. The latest version of Java from Apple, v1.6 update 35, is included.

The problem: Sandboxing in Java is no longer reliable. Methods of bypassing the sandbox are being consistently discovered. As a result, website malware applets are able to break through into victim's computers and zombie/bot/PWN them with the user's privileges. If the user is running as Administrator, the machine is entirely controlled.

Conclusion: Turn Java OFF when surfing the web.

I've covered how to turn Java off on OS X in previous posts. You can either:

1) Use the Java Preferences app in your Utilities folder, which is what I recommend.

OR

2) Turn Java off within each individual web browser, which is better than nothing, but prone to user failure.

Only turn Java on when you have already gone to a trusted website that REQUIRES Java. Turn it off again BEFORE you leave that website.

Another approach is to use one specific browser, with Java turned on, for browsing ONLY trusted websites that require Java. Quit the browser before you leave those websites.


THE EVIDENCE:

All of the recent Java sandbox vulnerabilities are being reported by a Polish software security firm named Security Explorations. Yesterday's Java vulnerability was announced at SecLists.org. They provide a timeline of their vulnerability announcements HERE.


THE OPINIONS:

Below is a set of links to various articles describing the situation. This issue is best discussed via an interview with Security Explorations CEO Adam Gowdiak in an article by Darlene Storm of Computerworld, which I placed at the top of the list:

Another critical Java vulnerability puts 1 billion users at risk

One Billion Users Affected by Java Security Sandbox Bypass Vulnerability, Experts Say

Researchers claim yet another vulnerability exists in Java

Oh no, yet another Java vulnerability discovered

A JAVA UPDATE?

Oracle will begin this year's JavaOne 2012 conference on September 30th. That would be the soonest we would see another Java update. The next 'scheduled' update for Java is October 16th. Presumably Apple is poised to release the OS X rendition of that update soon thereafter. (Apple and Oracle have made the OS X JRE, Java Runtime Engine, an open source project).


MY OPINION:

If all of Security Exploration's reports are correct, I consider sandboxing in Java to be fundamentally broken and unreliable. That this has been the case way back to Java 1.5.x (aka 'Java 5') is a stunner. I haven't kept up with changes in Java over the past several years as I had given up on it as a superior programming language. Clearly, Java has fallen down on its fundamental security goals. I'm not sure it is ever going to get back up. Oracle has proven that they don't have the interest or stamina to provide Java with the serious attention it requires. As I've pointed out frequently, when a company creates a standard periodic security update schedule, you know they're not being realistic. This has been the case with Microsoft and Adobe for years and is repeating itself with Oracle.

I'm not ringing a death knell, but the situation does indicate that there must be a fundamental rewrite of the JRE foundation code for sandboxing. It's not working. It's time for Java 2.0.
--

Apple Releases Patched Java 6, v1.6 Update 35

--

For the moment, Java is 'safe' again. Apple has provided for Mac users the latest patched version of Java 6, which apparently does not include any of the drive-by infection security holes found plentiful in recent versions of Java 7 as well as older versions of Java 6.

There are two different Java updates:

I) For OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard you'll want to install 'Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 10'. You can read about it and download it HERE.

This update configures web browsers to not automatically run Java applets. Java applets may be re-enabled by clicking the region labeled "Inactive plug-in" on a web page. If no applets have been run for an extended period of time, the Java web plug-in will deactivate. 

Please quit any web browsers and Java applications before installing this update.

II) For OS X 10.7 Lion and 10.8 Mountain Lion you'll want to install 'Java for OS X 2012-05'. You can read about it and download it HERE.

This update configures the Java plug-in to deactivate when no applets are run for an extended period of time. If the prior update named "Java for OS X 2012-004" was not installed, this update will disable the Java web plug-in immediately. Java applets may be re-enabled by clicking the region labeled "Inactive plug-in" on a web page.

Please quit any web browsers and Java applications before installing this update.

Again Note: There is NO safe version of Java 7 (v1.7) available for OS X at this time. If you have installed it, you might as well uninstall it and instead install the appropriate Java 6 update from above.

I've noted a lot of confusion on the net about the Java drive-by infection problems. They do NOT affect your use of software on your Mac as long as that software is not accessing the Internet. The only way you can become infected is by browsing the Internet with the Java plug-in activated. To entirely avoid this situation, simply turn Java OFF using the Java Preferences app found inside your Utilities folder. I have covered this subject previously.

If you have Java installed and you must use Java somewhere on the Internet, here is the best strategy:

1) Be sure Java is ON in the Java Preferences app, found inside your Utilities folder.

2) Be sure Java is OFF inside your web browser's preferences for normal web surfing.

3) Visit the website where you must use Java.

4) Turn Java ON using your browsers preferences.

5) Reload the web page and go to work.

6) When you have finished working with that website, turn Java OFF again using the browser's preferences.

I note that Apple discuss how installation of today's Java updates automatically turns Java off. Apple recommend "clicking the region labeled "Inactive plug-in" on a web page" when you need to run Java on that website.

I do NOT like Apple's idea at all as it leaves Java running when we leave that website and surf elsewhere. We do NOT want to go wandering around the web with Java enabled, specifically due to the possibility of yet-another Java drive-by infection security hole being discovered and exploited. My method above is a bit more annoying, but it is SAFE, unlike Apple's potentially dangerous method.

If at some point Apple automatically disable Java every time we leave a website, then we will be safe. Until that time, we're going to have to re-disable Java ourselves.

Just to be clear: No, Apple is not saying they are disabling Java on every new web page. All Apple is doing is deactivating Java "if no applets have been run for an extended period of time." That is all. That is NOT good enough. Please take this warning seriously.

At least we can now go back to using Java. But Java's reputation has become so incredibly poor, thanks to crapcoding at the Java project, that it is well worth remaining wary of using it on the Internet. Using Java while not on the Internet should be fine at this time. There are currently no Trojan horses for OS X that exploit Java security holes.

I hope this helps. If there are questions, please comment below or check out the links I provided in my previous article about this ongoing problem.
--