230746 skype logo

Earlier today, security researcher Gordon Maddern of Pure Hacking reported on a security vulnerability he accidentally discovered in Skype's software for Mac OS X, a vulnerability that he said he disclosed to the company a month ago and had yet to be patched.

I notified them on the security vulnerabilitity and I was given the standard:

"Thank you for showing an interest in skype security, we are aware of this issue and will be addressing it in the next hotfix"

That was over a month ago and there still has not been a fix released. The long and the short of it is that an attacker needs only to send a victim a message and they can gain remote control of the victims Mac. It is extremely wormable and dangerous.

Skype quickly responded on its security blog, noting that the company was already aware of the issue by the time Maddern reported it and had in fact issued a fix for it as part of a minor update to Skype for Mac released on April 14th. But because exploits for the vulnerability had not been reported in the wild, the company opted not to prompt existing users to apply the update.

Skype says that another update for the company's Mac software is set to launch early next week, and users will be prompted to update at that time. But in the meantime, Skype does recommend that users aware of the issue simply manually check for updates to get the current patched version.

This new update will include some additional updates and bug fixes. When it is released, we will notify all Skype for Mac users of the need to update their software (the client will prompt the user to update). In the meantime, we recommend you update your software with the fix made available on April 14th, just click on Skype -> Check for Updates or you can download the software here.

The vulnerability affects only the Mac OS X version of Skype, and thus clients for other platforms such as Windows and Linux will not require an update.

Top Rated Comments

locust76 Avatar
185 months ago
skype is disgusting!

I heard they record conversations with out users knowing, as well as locations and access other info, whats really disgusting is the fact that everyone is collecting information becuase they can use it against innocent people!

Put your tinfoil hat away, there's no proof or motive of this. Besides, Skype is Peer to Peer, which means recording a conversation is next to impossible, because it doesn't go through a central server. If Skype clients were uploading recordings, people would notice.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
netnothing Avatar
185 months ago
It's on Page 2: Security Vulnerability Discovered in Skype for Mac, Latest Update Includes Patch (https://www.macrumors.com/2011/05/06/security-vulnerability-discovered-in-skype-for-mac-latest-update-includes-patch/)

Yeah we know "where" it is. He's saying it should be front and center on Page 1.

But I guess security stories aren't as important as a new ambient light sensor.

-Kevin
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ciTiger Avatar
185 months ago
Don't use skype that much atm but i really hope they improve the interface soon :p
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdavtz Avatar
185 months ago
so does anyone know if the vulnerability is in 2.8 or only in 5?

also -- apple has a role here: "control of victim's mac" shouldn't be possible without at least a password prompt


A possible workaround I suppose would be: allow chats from - only people in my contact list
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
techpr Avatar
185 months ago
So I'm now forced to upgrade from 2.8.good.ui to 5.1.trash.ui ?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bmb012 Avatar
185 months ago
Why would anyone ever install Skype 5 over 2.8? :eek:

I do wish they'd fix their stupid hideous software :(
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 16 New Features

Friday July 11, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are only two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:A redesigned Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that all iPhone 17 models will have a redesigned Dynamic Island interface — it might ...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:30 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Air Colors Thumb 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air Rumored to Come in These 9 Colors

Friday July 11, 2025 12:30 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will be available in a total of nine color options, according to new information coming out of Asia. The iPhone 17 Air's expected color options. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean blog Naver, accessory manufacturers are now producing camera protector rings for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air in colors to match their...