Earlier this month, Apple took the unusual step of remotely blocking Oracle's Java 7 browser plug-in due to a major security vulnerability, using the "Xprotect" anti-malware system built into OS X to enforce a minimum version number that had yet to be released. Within days, Oracle updated Java to address the issue, with the new version number making the Java plug-in usable on OS X systems once more.
As noted by French site MacGeneration [Google translation] and the Apple discussion forums, Apple has once again blocked the Java 7 plug-in using Xprotect.
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The updated blacklist enforces a minimum Java plug-in version of 1.7.0_11-b22, while the latest version of the plug-in is 1.7.0_11-b21.
The exact reason for Apple's renewed block on the Java plug-in is unknown although reports immediately following the release of Update 11 earlier this month indicated that it fixed only one of the two bugs that contributed to the security vulnerability. In the wake of that news, cybersecurity officials recommended that most users disable Java even with the up-to-date plug-in installed.
Oracle Security Alert CVE-2013-0422 states that Java 7 Update 11 addresses this (CVE-2013-0422) and an equally severe, but distinct vulnerability (CVE-2012-3174). Immunity has indicated that only the reflection vulnerability has been fixed and that the JMX MBean vulnerability remains. Java 7u11 sets the default Java security settings to "High" so that users will be prompted before running unsigned or self-signed Java applets.
Unless it is absolutely necessary to run Java in web browsers, disable it as described below, even after updating to 7u11. This will help mitigate other Java vulnerabilities that may be discovered in the future.
If this continued issue is indeed the reason for the new block by Apple, it is unclear why the company waited several weeks to update its plug-in blacklist.
Top Rated Comments
Classic if it doesnt affect me its not important.
This has stopped by company from using its finance system and staff are currently sat around twiddling their thumbs. Plus it took me an entire morning to work out what the issue was as there was no notification from Apple.
Thanks for your really useful advice!
I re-iterate what some others have said. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR from Apple and they need to sort this out pronto.
Here's what it really is!
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>JavaWebComponentVersionMinimum</key>
<string>1.6.0_37-b06-435</string>
<key>LastModification</key>
<string>Thu, 31 Jan 2013 04:41:14 GMT</string>
<key>PlugInBlacklist</key>
<dict>
<key>10</key>
<dict>
<key>com.macromedia.Flash Player.plugin</key>
<dict>
<key>MinimumPlugInBundleVersion</key>
<string>11.3.300.271</string>
</dict>
<key>com.oracle.java.JavaAppletPlugin</key>
<dict>
<key>MinimumPlugInBundleVersion</key>
<string>1.7.11.22</string>
</dict>
</dict>
</dict>
<key>Version</key>
<integer>2028</integer>
</dict>
</plist>
To re-enable Apple Java 1.6:
sudo /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Delete :JavaWebComponentVersionMinimum" /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/XProtect.meta.plist
or
sudo defaults write /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/XProtect.meta.plist JavaWebComponentVersionMinimum \"1.6.0_37-b06-434\"
To re-enable Oracle Java 1.7u11 edit the "/System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/XProtect.meta.plist" using vi in Terminal and change:
<string>1.7.11.22</string>
to:
<string>1.7.11.19</string>
I posted the block on Twitter when I noticed it this morning.
https://twitter.com/sonynair/status/296935103383347201
Hope that helps someone!
Since Java is not installed by default on the latest version of OS X, I don't think Apple should be blocking it at all. If a user wants to use Java, he or she should be able to do so. If a user wants to be protected, perhaps he or she can install some sort of malware app that also checks for possible Java exploits. I can see why Apple would use Xprotect for their own in-house version of Java, but this is not their baby anymore.
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Thank you... I agree wholeheartedly! I don't need Apple babysitting me. I hope this all gets resolved very soon.