Apple Security Advisory 09-16-2024-9 - macOS Sonoma 14.7 addresses buffer overflow, bypass, out of bounds access, out of bounds read, out of bounds write, and spoofing vulnerabilities.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----  
Hash: SHA256

APPLE-SA-09-16-2024-9 macOS Sonoma 14.7

macOS Sonoma 14.7 addresses the following issues.  
Information about the security content is also available at  
https://support.apple.com/121247.

Apple maintains a Security Releases page at  
https://support.apple.com/100100 which lists recent  
software updates with security advisories.

Accounts  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to access user-sensitive data  
Description: The issue was addressed with improved permissions logic.  
CVE-2024-44153: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

App Intents  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to access sensitive data logged when a  
shortcut fails to launch another app  
Description: This issue was addressed with improved redaction of  
sensitive information.  
CVE-2024-44182: Kirin (@Pwnrin)

AppleGraphicsControl  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted video file may lead to  
unexpected app termination  
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.  
CVE-2024-40846: Michael DePlante (@izobashi) of Trend Micro Zero Day  
Initiative  
CVE-2024-40845: Pwn2car working with Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative

AppleGraphicsControl  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app  
termination  
Description: A memory initialization issue was addressed with improved  
memory handling.  
CVE-2024-44154: Michael DePlante (@izobashi) of Trend Micro Zero Day  
Initiative

AppleMobileFileIntegrity  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to access sensitive user data  
Description: The issue was addressed with additional code-signing  
restrictions.  
CVE-2024-40847: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

AppleMobileFileIntegrity  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences  
Description: This issue was addressed with improved checks.  
CVE-2024-44164: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

AppleMobileFileIntegrity  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system  
Description: A library injection issue was addressed with additional  
restrictions.  
CVE-2024-44168: Claudio Bozzato and Francesco Benvenuto of Cisco Talos

AppleMobileFileIntegrity  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An attacker may be able to read sensitive information  
Description: A downgrade issue was addressed with additional code-  
signing restrictions.  
CVE-2024-40848: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

AppleVA  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted video file may lead to  
unexpected app termination  
Description: An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved  
bounds checking.  
CVE-2024-40841: Michael DePlante (@izobashi) of Trend Micro Zero Day  
Initiative

AppSandbox  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to access protected files within an App  
Sandbox container  
Description: A permissions issue was addressed with additional  
restrictions.  
CVE-2024-44135: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

Automator  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An Automator Quick Action workflow may be able to bypass  
Gatekeeper  
Description: This issue was addressed by adding an additional prompt for  
user consent.  
CVE-2024-44128: Anton Boegler

bless  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system  
Description: A permissions issue was addressed with additional  
restrictions.  
CVE-2024-44151: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

Compression  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Unpacking a maliciously crafted archive may allow an attacker to  
write arbitrary files  
Description: A race condition was addressed with improved locking.  
CVE-2024-27876: Snoolie Keffaber (@0xilis)

Dock  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to access user-sensitive data  
Description: A privacy issue was addressed by removing sensitive data.  
CVE-2024-44177: an anonymous researcher

Game Center  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to access user-sensitive data  
Description: A file access issue was addressed with improved input  
validation.  
CVE-2024-40850: Denis Tokarev (@illusionofcha0s)

ImageIO  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app  
termination  
Description: An out-of-bounds read issue was addressed with improved  
input validation.  
CVE-2024-27880: Junsung Lee

ImageIO  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Processing an image may lead to a denial-of-service  
Description: An out-of-bounds access issue was addressed with improved  
bounds checking.  
CVE-2024-44176: dw0r of ZeroPointer Lab working with Trend Micro Zero  
Day Initiative, an anonymous researcher

Intel Graphics Driver  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted texture may lead to unexpected  
app termination  
Description: A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory  
handling.  
CVE-2024-44160: Michael DePlante (@izobashi) of Trend Micro Zero Day  
Initiative

Intel Graphics Driver  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Processing a maliciously crafted texture may lead to unexpected  
app termination  
Description: An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved bounds  
checking.  
CVE-2024-44161: Michael DePlante (@izobashi) of Trend Micro Zero Day  
Initiative

IOSurfaceAccelerator  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination  
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.  
CVE-2024-44169: Antonio Zekić

Kernel  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Network traffic may leak outside a VPN tunnel  
Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.  
CVE-2024-44165: Andrew Lytvynov

Mail Accounts  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to access information about a user's contacts  
Description: A privacy issue was addressed with improved private data  
redaction for log entries.  
CVE-2024-40791: Rodolphe BRUNETTI (@eisw0lf)

Maps  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to read sensitive location information  
Description: An issue was addressed with improved handling of temporary  
files.  
CVE-2024-44181: Kirin(@Pwnrin) and LFY(@secsys) from Fudan University

mDNSResponder  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to cause a denial-of-service  
Description: A logic error was addressed with improved error handling.  
CVE-2024-44183: Olivier Levon

Notes  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to overwrite arbitrary files  
Description: This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code.  
CVE-2024-44167: ajajfxhj

PackageKit  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system  
Description: This issue was addressed with improved validation of  
symlinks.  
CVE-2024-44178: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

Safari  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Visiting a malicious website may lead to user interface spoofing  
Description: This issue was addressed through improved state management.  
CVE-2024-40797: Rifa'i Rejal Maynando

Sandbox  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: A malicious application may be able to access private  
information  
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.  
CVE-2024-44163: Zhongquan Li (@Guluisacat)

Sandbox  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: A malicious application may be able to leak sensitive user  
information  
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.  
CVE-2024-44125: Zhongquan Li (@Guluisacat)

Security Initialization  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to access protected user data  
Description: A permissions issue was addressed with additional  
restrictions.  
CVE-2024-40801: Zhongquan Li (@Guluisacat), Pedro José Pereira Vieito  
(@pvieito), an anonymous researcher

Shortcuts  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: A shortcut may output sensitive user data without consent  
Description: This issue was addressed with improved redaction of  
sensitive information.  
CVE-2024-44158: Kirin (@Pwnrin)

Shortcuts  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to observe data displayed to the user by  
Shortcuts  
Description: A privacy issue was addressed with improved handling of  
temporary files.  
CVE-2024-40844: Kirin (@Pwnrin) and luckyu (@uuulucky) of NorthSea

sudo  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system  
Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.  
CVE-2024-40860: Arsenii Kostromin (0x3c3e)

System Settings  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to access user-sensitive data  
Description: A privacy issue was addressed with improved private data  
redaction for log entries.  
CVE-2024-44166: Kirin (@Pwnrin) and LFY (@secsys) from Fudan University

System Settings  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to read arbitrary files  
Description: A path handling issue was addressed with improved  
validation.  
CVE-2024-44190: Rodolphe BRUNETTI (@eisw0lf)

Transparency  
Available for: macOS Sonoma  
Impact: An app may be able to access user-sensitive data  
Description: A permissions issue was addressed with additional  
restrictions.  
CVE-2024-44184: Bohdan Stasiuk (@Bohdan_Stasiuk)

Additional recognition

Airport  
We would like to acknowledge David Dudok de Wit for their assistance.

macOS Sonoma 14.7 may be obtained from the Mac App Store or Apple's  
Software Downloads web site: https://support.apple.com/downloads/

All information is also posted on the Apple Security Releases  
web site: https://support.apple.com/100100.

This message is signed with Apple's Product Security PGP key,  
and details are available at:  
https://www.apple.com/support/security/pgp/  
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

iQIzBAEBCAAdFiEEsz9altA7uTI+rE/qX+5d1TXaIvoFAmboywEACgkQX+5d1TXa  
IvrDjxAA2tgRLOOTvFpZrVW/HEBxwCFUn7UkzXyfgUTuqntjSvmsc/pyVmPDpnOM  
UnLhZ4d3B6v44MSelhxSbomtGkggQfYAvcNmlPDk+yMMS0K5yRBJ3dobEt4e53Wj  
9DQl2cQfHxop3uaLRFRTRy5Wk46xIZcsPS3Obb0kLAZpnzD1K2UQ5tIgEVF2ETqi  
SaRlrjqsgiauG/qZ8pzJjQSB1/iNBJCf4TBMBmHHJ91zAVOiYxvVcIAcBl1cBK4m  
UU6Z0vF1NmNCTAu/8KPP0Y6AD5tM7ZrkotU1yTP8uey4r3Ec8XrZqzhTH05sMI5V  
Xt98UeRNl2EJQAJR2Wjfsa2u255SvJ9VJpOGpTff9npsP5c6a7fup2mcKSVmCJHG  
FxFoU9WC2Lx2fsb7kBZXx5y4+/lwKBh8gQBkqOB4vttUZIYwp/rwXJtBvwkSb3E+  
2MTYly0SAAAbwrGoImKsskbiOxB+Ebry2cZ4Rg8rKKwQIfpjpgCb2U97Ue1zCU/S  
lHCObpyD0HtDD13zYw3NXfbrcWS195WhLdgtVl9XJz90pQQwdcINzubGhILmabpl  
Q+QXoSuKNi0ooy9qO8yEmQdzF0swD/FZMqTmF6FFtFby4NpY6ooapHHyhJOGeqSn  
/Poj2T/Ay/xaX7VL2fUPU9n0KTNtp+HgvgpzMX31HpBNXo/96Eo=  
=YUrh  
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Apple Security Advisory 09-16-2024-9

Apple Security Advisory 09-16-2024-7 - Xcode 16 addresses unauthorized access issues.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----  
Hash: SHA256

APPLE-SA-09-16-2024-7 Xcode 16

Xcode 16 addresses the following issues.  
Information about the security content is also available at  
https://support.apple.com/121239.

Apple maintains a Security Releases page at  
https://support.apple.com/100100 which lists recent  
software updates with security advisories.

IDE Documentation  
Available for: macOS Sonoma 14.5 and later  
Impact: A malicious application may gain access to a user's Keychain  
items  
Description: This issue was addressed by enabling hardened runtime.  
CVE-2024-44162: Mickey Jin (@patch1t)

IDE Tools  
Available for: macOS Sonoma 14.5 and later  
Impact: An attacker may be able to determine the Apple ID of the owner  
of the computer  
Description: A privacy issue was addressed by removing sensitive data.  
CVE-2024-40862: Guilherme Rambo of Best Buddy Apps (rambo.codes)

Kernel  
Available for: macOS Sonoma 14.5 and later  
Impact: An app may gain unauthorized access to Bluetooth  
Description: This issue was addressed through improved state management.  
CVE-2024-44191: Alexander Heinrich, SEEMOO, DistriNet, KU Leuven  
(@vanhoefm), TU Darmstadt (@Sn0wfreeze) and Mathy Vanhoef

Additional recognition

Reality Composer Pro  
We would like to acknowledge Ron Masas of BreakPoint.sh for their  
assistance.

Swift  
We would like to acknowledge Banavath Aravind for their assistance.

Xcode 16 may be obtained from:  
https://developer.apple.com/xcode/downloads/  To check that the Xcode  
has been updated:  * Select Xcode in the menu bar * Select About  
Xcode * The version after applying this update will be "Xcode 16".

All information is also posted on the Apple Security Releases  
web site: https://support.apple.com/100100.

This message is signed with Apple's Product Security PGP key,  
and details are available at:  
https://www.apple.com/support/security/pgp/  
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

iQIzBAEBCAAdFiEEsz9altA7uTI+rE/qX+5d1TXaIvoFAmboyXkACgkQX+5d1TXa  
IvqCRxAAg1rkAKtcgeWhSMqBPcPT8p3dpGm0gm6f5bIIJHefxwmHcNjS6GJh7Doi  
g3Dv+MJiGLOa/B0fqdDlAuimxAyW5KrMKl4oXHmo0Hl0D8SHi2f+NL3JI91SmZts  
rs1L4VpbR9uUJTCoXeZOXVH+LnXDN6jfUpD5+23kFJtuRBGw8a7BHRD1H0sl7yi9  
sS8n6zvYujiQyS8zP1NWkpxVMaLwTqFuE4gLR7Whjod70cPkQOzUpa2pmvA/xSXQ  
hpT8jhV1EVXVCGySkOmks3sdOxMg2PTTJ0l1r/hsLZSOhvbG6XyLPp1Y79uGLsnn  
aZIIHdHg9DWyoy8KNbgMsyjQC5/ZMkcEQloIgdx/vH3L0WDEa+/sZObrkERAKhZi  
qJneaBWmasy/I6QuoBihyo1EJhXRcDgw/7wjJaTPxJVJEAEVXMnwhz4UokvAE6CU  
Jo4qH1Yi6LLbCFuSUKUzJTq6OC0kssVp6Se2WAaqIm+5+374BgW/x2diaS1eLgYo  
e6db73koL1apAgP4vMvg3GUTA0/e4siZ9rAKYnRTghPWaKMX93Yeab9xHh5tNKb7  
INav09fDLuGBs97oe9pBfDFajYACaGdmYDA/mtoKchMt5gkgcovysjfV51KXdz8L  
dMGDYdOAtf0Lg0YkyuKEPzfYIoeTBKhWq1hZYS+ZQVULd5gkysM=  
=o+oG  
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Apple Security Advisory 09-16-2024-7

Apple Security Advisory 09-16-2024-6 - Safari 18 addresses cross site scripting and spoofing vulnerabilities.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----  
Hash: SHA256

APPLE-SA-09-16-2024-6 Safari 18

Safari 18 addresses the following issues.  
Information about the security content is also available at  
https://support.apple.com/121241.

Apple maintains a Security Releases page at  
https://support.apple.com/100100 which lists recent  
software updates with security advisories.

WebKit  
Available for: macOS Ventura and macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Visiting a malicious website may lead to address bar spoofing  
Description: The issue was addressed with improved UI.  
WebKit Bugzilla: 279451  
CVE-2024-40866: Hafiizh and YoKo Kho (@yokoacc) of HakTrak

WebKit  
Available for: macOS Ventura and macOS Sonoma  
Impact: A malicious website may exfiltrate data cross-origin  
Description: A cross-origin issue existed with "iframe" elements. This  
was addressed with improved tracking of security origins.  
WebKit Bugzilla: 279452  
CVE-2024-44187: Narendra Bhati, Manager of Cyber Security at Suma Soft  
Pvt. Ltd, Pune (India)

WebKit  
Available for: macOS Ventura and macOS Sonoma  
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to universal  
cross site scripting  
Description: This issue was addressed through improved state management.  
WebKit Bugzilla: 268724  
CVE-2024-40857: Ron Masas

Additional recognition

Safari  
We would like to acknowledge Hafiizh and YoKo Kho (@yokoacc) of HakTrak  
for their assistance.

Safari 18 may be obtained from the Mac App Store.

All information is also posted on the Apple Security Releases  
web site: https://support.apple.com/100100.

This message is signed with Apple's Product Security PGP key,  
and details are available at:  
https://www.apple.com/support/security/pgp/  
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

iQIzBAEBCAAdFiEEsz9altA7uTI+rE/qX+5d1TXaIvoFAmboyScACgkQX+5d1TXa  
Ivr5URAAqi3Km6vP17ccXkXlrcDJXrYE+HSdkDkqlpT0hNsfLCcpfbZME8R02efV  
lzb8JZ7DdtWI4U0WKjvJvmIhm0Ik2S1stYCNaxAtEBJ6YUYIJE5lJS4J/D3J1QTd  
5ygCi+zEzPnRjQx2BZ1Ju3VQdpDen50vTBY/cdqrujtbZ5s4wY2K2qV5SaPv7/zY  
6KChB6ivmuEN/iEN5e/ppTr3lAC1Hw1GFsD6xqnxK+USyydYGryQHvCzoidYjoaB  
7MkfwASZ/+RmdeCK+6pcN4NP8MRszViGas0GtZe+y7O/Pu6gc6PRrpD2s2LJKUta  
id0ofA1EtL+IRav/wXvJbvTBQc2vWhOrFWL4rP/9znCW2wtO8neayKewWYal1ClZ  
Jn75AOig5pfk6/aTtFFVXn/869PlolaVWe/jQuTVHvXX+N1nuDCriTRpVsz/XMdb  
3kWqsgMMxKjJnFQoprKpJcAA+vc28L5WLBxhXgGkcb8DML70YNg96CsH3w+qUrJL  
w9+AiGrgBECU3MhQOENtE8AmTmYMDCxjnEI8pYcsu5mKmLHkBnjRhYArLP+Se+3d  
PLHvbAaZf/cmO7Vm4A2uu1bhqf+E3UJLIlkIGMcwp+vQBiSAT70hri8J6fcaCvLq  
Hw7rhBt/najjjENdErB9REmqAjkJY3vP2K4pjE/1PNXmHd5tQu4=  
=q+/h  
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Apple Security Advisory 09-16-2024-6

The sanctions are unlikely to affect the growing network of criminals who lure victims into working for cybercrime sweat shops around the world.

Source: Feng Yu via Alamy Stock Photo

Cambodian business tycoon and senator Ly Yong Phat, along with the business conglomerate he runs and O‑Smach Resort, have been sanctioned for using forced labor to run a center perpetuating cryptocurrency scams.

According to a report from the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), workers from countries including China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam have been lured to the O-Smach resort under the pretense of legitimate work.

Upon arrival, their passports are confiscated, and victims are forced to work up to 15-hour days perpetuating online scams.

"People who called for help reported being beaten, abused with electric shocks, made to pay a hefty ransom, or threatened with being sold to other online scam gangs," the report noted. "There have been two reports of victims jumping to their death from buildings within O‑Smach Resort." 

As a result of the sanctions, which designate the L.Y.P. Group conglomerate, O-Smach, and three other hotels as being "directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse," Ly's properties and interests are blocked and any transactions must be reported to OFAC.

US citizens, financial institutions, and businesses that deal with L.Y.P. could themselves face sanctions.

**Cyber Scam Forced-Labor Rings Difficult to Root Out**

Stephen Kowski, field chief technology officer at SlashNext Email Security+, says sanctions send a "strong message" that the international community is acting against human trafficking and forced labor in cybersecurity scams.

"However, their effectiveness will ultimately depend on rigorous enforcement and cooperation from other countries and financial institutions, particularly given the endemic corruption that has hindered previous investigations," he says.

He added that the phenomenon is challenging to combat due to its transnational nature, the use of sophisticated technology, and the involvement of corrupt officials.

"Cyber-scam operations often exploit jurisdictional gaps and rapidly evolve their tactics to evade detection, while victims are isolated and coerced, making it difficult for authorities to identify and rescue them," Kowski explains.

Robert Duncan, security strategist at Netcraft, says that while the US sanctions will affect Ly's business dealings in the US, it is unlikely to turn the tide by itself on the problem of scams emanating from that corner of the world.

From his perspective, cross-border cooperation is truly essential — the victim is often in the developed world, and the scammer is not.

"However, others throughout the world are often involved in these scams, including those enabling money laundering through cryptocurrencies or mule bank accounts in the same jurisdiction as the victim — not just in Southeast Asia," Duncan adds.

**Southeast Asia Teeming With Cyber Trafficking**

Southeast Asia is a global hotspot for forced-labor camps running cyber scams akin to the ones run by L.Y.P.

It's an issue that has also caught the attention of the United Nations, which estimates that 100,000 people in Cambodia alone are being forced to work for cybercrime syndicates.

International law enforcement agencies including Interpol have been working on multiple cases involving human trafficking run by cyber-fraud operators, with a recent five-month investigation leading to the arrest of 281 perpetrators.

The scale of the problem prompted the FBI to issue a warning in May 2023 to US citizens traveling or living in Southeast Asia to be aware of scam advertisements posing as legitimate work offers.

In February, Myanmar authorities handed over 10 suspects to China who were accused of running cyber-fraud and money-laundering operations in Myanmar.

John Bambenek, president at Bambenek Consulting, notes that while sanctions might seem toothless overall, for someone with the level of assets that Ly has, they can be very problematic.

"There are only a few places that handle that kind of wealth, and if any mistakes are made, the assets can be frozen or seized by regulators," he explains. "That said, it's a consolation prize from the sanction that really needs to be levied — a jail cell."

**About the Author**

Nathan Eddy is a freelance journalist and award-winning documentary filmmaker specializing in IT security, autonomous vehicle technology, customer experience technology, and architecture and urban planning. A graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Nathan currently lives in Berlin, Germany.

Cambodian Tycoon Sanctioned for Forced Cyber Labor, Trafficking

`RUSTSEC-2024-0377` contains multiple soundness issues:

 1. [Bytes::read() allows creating instances of types with invalid bit patterns](https://github.com/Alexhuszagh/rust-lexical/issues/102)
 1. [BytesIter::read() advances iterators out of bounds](https://github.com/Alexhuszagh/rust-lexical/issues/101)
 1. [The `BytesIter` trait has safety invariants but is public and not marked `unsafe`](https://github.com/Alexhuszagh/rust-lexical/issues/104)
 1. [`write_float()` calls `MaybeUninit::assume_init()` on uninitialized data, which is is not allowed by the Rust abstract machine](https://github.com/Alexhuszagh/rust-lexical/issues/95)
 1. [`radix()` calls `MaybeUninit::assume_init()` on uninitialized data, which is is not allowed by the Rust abstract machine](https://github.com/Alexhuszagh/rust-lexical/issues/126)

Version 1.0 fixes these issues, removes the vast majority of `unsafe` code, and also fixes some correctness issues.


**lexical-core has multiple soundness issues**

Low severity GitHub Reviewed Published Sep 16, 2024 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Sep 16, 2024

GHSA-2326-pfpj-vx3h: lexical-core has multiple soundness issues

Apple is launching its first stand-alone password manager app in iOS 18. Here’s what you need to know.

Apple’s latest iPhone software update, iOS 18, arrives today and includes a new app: Passwords. For the first time, Apple is taking your phone’s ability to save login details and putting them in a standalone app. It could help improve millions of people’s terrible passwords.

After years of being told you should create unique, strong passwords for every website and app you use, you probably fall into one of two camps: people that are fully signed up to the password manager life, or those still using “123456” for every other website.

Apple’s new encrypted Passwords app is automatically included with iOS 18, and is a public-facing evolution of its Keychain and password-saving capabilities. The Keychain, which has existed for more than a decade, no longer has as prominent a home in the iPhone’s settings, and details previously saved there are being moved to the new app.

The launch of the password manager app, which will also be available on macOS Sequoia and iPadOS 18, may help improve people’s relationships with their passwords but also could, to varying degrees, challenge existing password managers.

“This move makes the app more visible to lay users and informs them about this secure method to store and manage passwords,” says Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk from security company Mysk. “You have a default password manager preinstalled on your device \[that\] provides end-to-end encryption when syncing data across devices.”

**New Passwords**

The Passwords app has a pretty barebones design. Six different tiles are presented when you open the app on an iPhone: All, Passkeys, Codes, Wi-Fi, Security, and Deleted. These are essentially the main functions of the app, allowing you to save each type of data within their relevant sections. The security section includes check-ups allowing weak and exposed passwords to be identified.

“This will definitely boost the adoption of this preinstalled app and bolster user security,” Bakry and Mysk say. They add that it presents the saved data “in a more organized way than the Settings app.”

Apple says the Passwords app uses end-to-end encryption to save your details, meaning nobody, not even Apple, knows what you have saved. Within the app, you can search for login details to your entries and set up groups to share passwords with other people.

Your saved login details are synced across Apple devices using iCloud, meaning the encrypted data is shared with Apple’s cloud servers and available on all of your Apple devices. Within Apple’s settings, you can turn off syncing passwords on a specific device. The app is locked using Face ID.

When using the Passwords app, any details you have previously saved in Keychain or AutoFill will be moved to the new location. This includes if you have used the Sign in with Apple login system on any websites or apps. It is unclear why Apple has decided to spin its Keychain system into a fully fledged password manager now, although the company has been building out the individual features over a number of years. (Apple has not responded to WIRED’s request for comment at the time of writing.)

For many people, having a standalone password manager app from Apple could encourage better password practices. Siamak Shahandashti, a senior lecturer in the University of York’s cybersecurity and privacy research group, says the move from Apple may be a usability decision. Making Passwords visible could encourage people to take their passwords seriously.

“We need to design authentication systems for human beings,” Shahandashti says. “We cannot expect users to maintain a hundred accounts, for each of them \[to\] use a strong password. It’s actually the fault of the designers because these systems have not been designed for users considering the capability of an average human being.”

**Death of the Password**

Passwords are slowly dying. Enter the passkey. For the past couple of years, websites, apps, and phone manufacturers have been in the process of rolling out passkeys—a technology that replaces passwords, is more secure, and doesn’t require you to remember any complex login details. (Although passkeys still have some teething problems.)

Leona Lassak, a research assistant at Ruhr-University Bochum who has studied passkey adoption, says greater “visibility” of the Passwords app can help get the sign-in technology to a broader audience, one which might not use a password manager otherwise. Apple’s Passwords app could help with the perception and transition to passkeys, Lassak says. “There has been discussion about the need for passkey managers, because once we actually use them on websites, there's probably going to be multiple for each website,” she says.

The app is also, at least subtly, encouraging the adoption of passkeys. Within Passwords’ settings, accessed through Apple’s System preferences, there’s the option to turn on “automatic” passkey upgrades, which will allow existing accounts to use passkeys when they are available.

**Lock In**

Password managers have existed for years and there are plenty of options you can use, from open source apps to browser-based management systems. Each comes with their own particular set of pros and cons.

Apple wading into the password management market by including a new app on millions of iPhones, Macs, and iPads could also impact the wider ecosystem. “There’s no question that Apple’s Passwords app would ‘sherlock’ third-party password managers—or make them less attractive,” say Bakry and Mysk, highlighting that people need to use iCloud to sync passwords in Apple’s system, and that those who are privacy conscious may not want this to happen automatically.

There’s also the risk of locking people into Apple’s password manager—at launch, there appear to be no options to export the saved data and use it in a commercial alternative. One competitor password manager has stressed that their software works on products “beyond” the “Apple ecosystem.” (People using Apple’s password management software on Windows devices can access saved details through iCloud for Windows.)

Ultimately, what password manager you use should reflect what type of software you want to support and the individual threats you may face. For many, Apple’s new app is probably better than not using a password manager at all.

Apple’s New Passwords App May Solve Your Login Nightmares

Mattermost Desktop App versions <=5.8.0 fail to specify an absolute path when searching the cmd.exe file, which allows a local attacker who is able to put an cmd.exe file in the Downloads folder of a user's machine to cause remote code execution on that machine.

**Exploitability Metrics**

Attack Vector: This metric reflects the context by which vulnerability exploitation is possible. This metric value (and consequently the resulting severity) will be larger the more remote (logically, and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerable system. The assumption is that the number of potential attackers for a vulnerability that could be exploited from across a network is larger than the number of potential attackers that could exploit a vulnerability requiring physical access to a device, and therefore warrants a greater severity.

Attack Complexity: This metric captures measurable actions that must be taken by the attacker to actively evade or circumvent existing built-in security-enhancing conditions in order to obtain a working exploit. These are conditions whose primary purpose is to increase security and/or increase exploit engineering complexity. A vulnerability exploitable without a target-specific variable has a lower complexity than a vulnerability that would require non-trivial customization. This metric is meant to capture security mechanisms utilized by the vulnerable system.

Attack Requirements: This metric captures the prerequisite deployment and execution conditions or variables of the vulnerable system that enable the attack. These differ from security-enhancing techniques/technologies (ref Attack Complexity) as the primary purpose of these conditions is not to explicitly mitigate attacks, but rather, emerge naturally as a consequence of the deployment and execution of the vulnerable system.

Privileges Required: This metric describes the level of privileges an attacker must possess prior to successfully exploiting the vulnerability. The method by which the attacker obtains privileged credentials prior to the attack (e.g., free trial accounts), is outside the scope of this metric. Generally, self-service provisioned accounts do not constitute a privilege requirement if the attacker can grant themselves privileges as part of the attack.

User interaction: This metric captures the requirement for a human user, other than the attacker, to participate in the successful compromise of the vulnerable system. This metric determines whether the vulnerability can be exploited solely at the will of the attacker, or whether a separate user (or user-initiated process) must participate in some manner.

**Vulnerable System Impact Metrics**

Confidentiality: This metric measures the impact to the confidentiality of the information managed by the VULNERABLE SYSTEM due to a successfully exploited vulnerability. Confidentiality refers to limiting information access and disclosure to only authorized users, as well as preventing access by, or disclosure to, unauthorized ones.

Integrity: This metric measures the impact to integrity of a successfully exploited vulnerability. Integrity refers to the trustworthiness and veracity of information. Integrity of the VULNERABLE SYSTEM is impacted when an attacker makes unauthorized modification of system data. Integrity is also impacted when a system user can repudiate critical actions taken in the context of the system (e.g. due to insufficient logging).

Availability: This metric measures the impact to the availability of the VULNERABLE SYSTEM resulting from a successfully exploited vulnerability. While the Confidentiality and Integrity impact metrics apply to the loss of confidentiality or integrity of data (e.g., information, files) used by the system, this metric refers to the loss of availability of the impacted system itself, such as a networked service (e.g., web, database, email). Since availability refers to the accessibility of information resources, attacks that consume network bandwidth, processor cycles, or disk space all impact the availability of a system.

**Subsequent System Impact Metrics**

Confidentiality: This metric measures the impact to the confidentiality of the information managed by the SUBSEQUENT SYSTEM due to a successfully exploited vulnerability. Confidentiality refers to limiting information access and disclosure to only authorized users, as well as preventing access by, or disclosure to, unauthorized ones.

Integrity: This metric measures the impact to integrity of a successfully exploited vulnerability. Integrity refers to the trustworthiness and veracity of information. Integrity of the SUBSEQUENT SYSTEM is impacted when an attacker makes unauthorized modification of system data. Integrity is also impacted when a system user can repudiate critical actions taken in the context of the system (e.g. due to insufficient logging).

Availability: This metric measures the impact to the availability of the SUBSEQUENT SYSTEM resulting from a successfully exploited vulnerability. While the Confidentiality and Integrity impact metrics apply to the loss of confidentiality or integrity of data (e.g., information, files) used by the system, this metric refers to the loss of availability of the impacted system itself, such as a networked service (e.g., web, database, email). Since availability refers to the accessibility of information resources, attacks that consume network bandwidth, processor cycles, or disk space all impact the availability of a system.

GHSA-wj4j-qc2m-fgh7: Mattermost Desktop App Uncontrolled Search Path Vulnerability

Flare, the layer-1 blockchain for data, has introduced the Flare Time Series Oracle version 2 (FTSOv2) on its…

Flare, the layer-1 blockchain for data, has introduced the Flare Time Series Oracle version 2 (FTSOv2) on its mainnet. This upgrade builds on the robust foundation of FTSOv1, which has provided consistent, decentralized data feeds since its launch two years ago. FTSOv2 aims to improve the latency, scalability and cost-effectiveness of the original system, which has experienced zero downtime or failures since inception.

FTSOv2 is enshrined into Flare’s core architecture, benefiting from the network’s full economic security. This ensures that every data feed is as secure as the blockchain itself. One of the key enhancements of FTSOv2 is its reduced latency. FTSOv2 updates with every new block on Flare, roughly every 1.8 seconds. This provides developers and users with more immediate and reliable access to data, which is crucial for a range of applications.

FTSOv2 achieves this speed without sacrificing decentralization. Each feed is supported by around 100 independent data providers, selected by users who delegate their stake, imposing a strict economic cost for misbehaviour. Currently, around 67% of the FLR’s circulating supply is used to secure FTSO.

The upgrade also introduces a significant increase in scalability. FTSOv2 can now support up to 1,000 feeds across various asset classes, including cryptocurrencies, equities, and commodities. FTSOv2 achieves this while remaining highly cost-effective, with all crypto feeds being free to query onchain!

****Real-world use case****

Lending and borrowing platforms can benefit from improved speed to ensure more efficient collateral usage and protect users against bad liquidations. In the area of perpetual futures and options, faster Oracle inputs can improve risk management for the entire platform. Cross-chain order books can also benefit from accurate pricing data provided by FTSOv2, ensuring smooth and secure transactions across different blockchain networks.

Moreover, the system can be applied to real-world assets, such as on-chain treasury yields, enabling further integration between traditional finance and blockchain technology.

**Under the hood**

FTSOv2 operates using a manipulation-resistant randomness algorithm to select data providers every 1.8 seconds, allowing them to submit fixed incremental updates to feeds. To ensure the long-term accuracy of the feeds, a commit-reveal process is run across all data providers every 90 seconds. In times of high market volatility, the system can increase the number of data providers submitting updates to ensure timely responses to price fluctuations.

Developers looking to integrate FTSOv2 into their applications can do so with ease, requiring fewer than 10 lines of code to query real-time data, such as FLR/USD prices. Flare offers resources and support through the Flare Developer Hub, as well as a community on Discord for ongoing discussions and assistance.

****About Flare Network****

Flare is the blockchain for data: an EVM smart contract platform specifically designed to support data-intensive use cases, including Machine Learning/AI, RWA tokenization, gaming and social.

With decentralized, enshrined oracles secured at the network layer, Flare is the only smart contract platform optimized for decentralized data acquisition – price & time series data, blockchain event & state data, and web2 API data.

By giving developers trustless access to the broadest range of data and data proofs at scale and for minimal cost, Flare expands the utility of blockchain and supports the development of new and improved use cases.

Flare’s FTSOv2 Launch Sets A New Standard For Decentralized Data

While the 2024 election may see various cyber threats, existing security measures and coordination across all levels of government aim to minimize their impact.

Mike Kosak, Senior Principal Intelligence Analyst, LastPass

September 16, 2024

4 Min Read

Source: Saphiens via Alamy Stock Photo

COMMENTARY

As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, cybersecurity is a frequent topic of conversation. From my time in the intelligence community supporting the Department of Defense, I'm familiar with government planning around elections. While the most discussed threats for 2024 are nation-state misinformation and disinformation, this election season, I'm also following cybersecurity threats to municipal election systems. 

The good news is the threat of an actual impactful disruption is low. As the US has funneled significant resources into securing elections over the past decade, US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) lead Jen Easterly said election infrastructure "has never been more secure." However, that doesn't mean threat actors aren't likely to attempt some sort of attacks, such as website defacements or distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks against municipal election websites.

Here are the four threats against local election systems we will most likely hear about in 2024:

**Voting Machine Hacking**

The most high-profile threat to US elections is voting machine hacking. However, voting machines are rarely connected directly to the Internet, which aligns with current cybersecurity guidelines. This means the most realistic threat vector would require physical access to the machines, according to F5 Labs, a concern addressed through anti-tampering and physical security guidelines around the country. While cyber vulnerabilities within voting machines exist — as demonstrated annually at the DEFCON Voting Village hacking event — to date, there have been no reports of cyberattacks taking voting machines offline or changing votes, despite the clear value of such a capability to US adversaries.

**DDoS Attacks**

DDoS attacks are a less disruptive but more frequent threat to US elections. Election monitoring and information websites leveraging Google's Project Shield DDoS protection services experienced a 400% increase in weekly attacks during the 2022 midterms. While several companies like Cloudflare offer free DDoS protection services to election-related websites, some sites are still going down. Mississippi's election websites were briefly taken offline in 2022 by a DDoS attack claimed by a pro-Russia hacking group. However, the attack did not impact voting results or availability.

Given the increased profile of the presidential election, we can expect to see DDoS on a larger scale in 2024. However, as CISA and the FBI stated in a July 31 alert, these attacks would not prevent voters from casting their ballots.

**Ransomware**

The FBI and CISA released a similar alert on Aug. 15 related to ransomware disruptions, reassuring the public that any attack along these lines would not compromise the security or accuracy of voting. Ransomware groups will likely target municipalities — already a common target — in the run-up to the elections. 

For instance, a ransomware attack in April forced a Georgia county to temporarily disconnect from the state's voter registration system as a precautionary measure — highlighting disruptions that could occur around access to voter data or other election information. However, the FBI and CISA noted, "Any successful ransomware attack on election infrastructure tracked by FBI and CISA has remained localized and successfully managed with minimal disruption to election operations and no impact on the security and accuracy of ballot casting or tabulation processes or systems." Similar to DDoS attacks, no reporting suggests ransomware attacks have ever prevented a vote from being cast.

**Website Defacement and Email Access**

Website defacements are another common threat, where attackers take over election-related sites to alter data or images. These attacks can either aim to embarrass the site owner or subtly manipulate information, such as polling results or polling station hours.

In 2020, a threat actor briefly took over the campaign website for then President Trump, posting a derogatory message and seeking payment in return for not releasing data they claimed to have stolen. While these attacks may occur and could cause local disruptions, they would not impact the ability to vote or tally votes.

Hybrid cyber-physical threats, such as the increasing use of emails or spoofed phone numbers to deliver fake bomb threats or conduct swatting attacks, also present a concern, where false scenarios are reported to provoke a large police response. In 2018, a months-long campaign targeting US schools and businesses caused evacuations, police responses, and major disruptions. Similar attacks on election day could target polling stations, election offices, or ballot-counting sites.

Finally, threat actors (particularly nation-states) will continue to target email accounts of political operatives and organizations. The US intelligence community has already attributed social engineering attacks targeting both major US political parties to Iran. These attacks aimed to access sensitive or embarrassing information to influence the US election, highlighting the frequency of politically motivated social engineering attacks and the importance of secure, unique passwords and multifactor authentication. 

**Safeguarding the Vote**

While cyberattacks will undoubtedly target US election infrastructure over the next few months, it's important to place these events in the context of the protections put in place. Federal, state, local, and tribal governments, as well as international allies, have all been tracking these threats and implementing mitigations and contingencies to help ensure a secure and smooth election. 

While the 2024 election may see various cyber threats, existing security measures and coordination across all levels of government aim to minimize their impact. Voters should stay informed and rely on official sources to ensure their participation is not disrupted.

**About the Author**

Senior Principal Intelligence Analyst, LastPass

Mike Kosak is a former US Department of Defense (DoD) counterterrorism intelligence officer with more than 20 years of experience as a threat intelligence analyst. While with the DoD, he served in several senior intelligence officer roles, including leading the Pentagon office responsible for providing intelligence updates to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was deployed to Iraq three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as the acting senior command representative to the Joint Special Operations Command for the Defense Intelligence Agency. During his deployments, he led intelligence teams in support of both conventional and special forces. Following his government service, Kosak held private sector cyber intelligence positions at Bank of America, where he led the Strategic Cyber Intelligence and Threat Evaluation teams, and TIAA, where he led the Cyber Threat Intelligence team. He currently serves as the senior principal intelligence analyst at LastPass.

Cybersecurity &amp; the 2024 US Elections

Boston, USA, 16th September 2024, CyberNewsWire

**Boston, USA, September 16th, 2024, CyberNewsWire**

Analysis of millions of real-world NHI secrets by Entro Security Labs reveals widespread, significant risks, emphasizes need for improved Secrets Management security practices   

Entro Security, pioneer of the award-winning Non-Human Identity (NHI) and Secrets Management platform, today released its research report, “2025 State of Non-Human Identities and Secrets in Cybersecurity.” The Entro Security Lab found that 97% of NHIs have excessive privileges increasing unauthorized access and broadening the attack surface, and 92% of organizations are exposing NHIs to third parties, also resulting in unauthorized access if third-party security practices are not aligned with organizational standards. Surprisingly, 44% of tokens are exposed in the wild, being sent or stored over platforms like Teams, Jira tickets, Confluence pages, code commits and more. Such practices put sensitive information at serious risk of being intercepted and exposed–the root of all secrets and non-human identity breaches. 

Entro Security Labs’ research reveals alarming trends in the handling of both human and NHIs, with significant misconfigurations and risks prevalent across organizations. Key findings include: 

*   For each human identity, there are an average of 92 non-human identities. An overwhelming number of non-human identities increases the complexity of identity management and the potential for security vulnerabilities 
*   91% of former employee tokens remain active, leaving organizations vulnerable to potential security breaches 
*   50% of organizations are onboarding new vaults without proper security approval which can introduce vulnerabilities and misconfigurations from the outset 
*   73% of vaults are misconfigured, also leading to unauthorized access and exposure of sensitive data and compromised systems 
*   60% of NHIs are being overused, with the same NHI being utilized by more than one application, increasing the risk of a single point of failure and widespread compromise if exposed 
*   62% of all secrets are duplicated and stored in multiple locations, causing unnecessary redundancy and increasing the risk of accidental exposure 
*   71% of non-human identities are not rotated within the recommended time frames, increasing the risk of compromise over time 

Additional findings are discussed in the report and reveal a critical need for organizations to reassess their NHIs and secrets management practices.  

Data from this report has been collected using a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative data analysis with qualitative insights derived from industry observations. The quantitative component focuses on statistical analysis of security incidents and vulnerabilities, while the qualitative aspect provides context and interpretation of these findings within the broader cybersecurity landscape. The data sources include proprietary data from Entro’s cybersecurity infrastructure, secondary data from publicly available industry reports and survey data from IT and security professionals. 

Entro’s complete research report on non-human identities is available on their website. 

To learn more or schedule a demo, please visit https://entro.security/demo/.  

**About Entro Security** 

An award-winning pioneer platform, Entro Security provides Non-Human Identity Lifecycle Management, Secrets Security and Non-Human Identity Detection and Response. Unlike traditional methods that reactively scan for exposed secrets, Entro integrates seamlessly within an organization’s existing vaults, and secret creation and exposure locations, offering a single pane of glass to securely use and manage non-human identities and secrets at scale. Headquartered in Boston and backed by top cybersecurity VCs, Entro was named a Cool Vendor by Gartner, Venafi’s Most Promising Machine Identity startup and is a 2023 Globee Awards Winner for Startup Achievement of the Year. For more information, please visit https://www.entro.security. 

**Contact**

**Senior Account Executive**  
**Hannah Sather**  
**Montner Tech PR**  
**\[email protected\]**

Tag

#mac