macOS 11.3 Patches Security Vulnerability That Bypassed Built-In Malware Protections

Apple today confirmed to TechCrunch that the just-released macOS 11.3 software update patches a security vulnerability that reportedly could have allowed a hacker to remotely access a user's sensitive data by tricking a user into opening a spoofed document.

apple security banner
"All the user would need to do is double click — and no macOS prompts or warnings are generated," said security researcher Cedric Owens, who discovered the vulnerability in mid-March, according to the report. Owens developed a proof-of-concept app masquerading as a harmless document that exploits the bug to launch the Calculator app, but he said the vulnerability could be exploited for more nefarious purposes.

According to security researcher Patrick Wardle, the vulnerability was the result of a logic bug in macOS's underlying code.

"In simple terms, macOS apps aren't a single file but a bundle of different files that the app needs to work, including a property list file that tells the application where the files it depends on are located," explains TechCrunch. "But Owens found that taking out this property file and building the bundle with a particular structure could trick macOS into opening the bundle — and running the code inside — without triggering any warnings."

In addition to fixing the bug in macOS 11.3, Apple told TechCrunch it patched earlier macOS versions to prevent abuse, and updated macOS's built-in anti-malware system XProtect to block malware from exploiting the vulnerability. The report says the bug was exploited for months, but it's unclear how many users were impacted.

Related Forum: macOS Big Sur

Top Rated Comments

LV426 Avatar
32 months ago

Apple is definitely protecting the consumers.
Well, Apple definitely wasn’t protecting customers when they introduced this vulnerability.

There‘s a good write up of the disastrous security flaw here ('https://objective-see.com/blog/blog_0x64.html').
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
32 months ago
Apple is definitely protecting the consumers.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ethosik Avatar
32 months ago

This is why the Mac App Store should remain closed, walled and protected... oh, wait...
And the solution is to......remove the store and protected systems in place? There will always be bad things that slip through. The only....ONLY way to achieve 100% secure system is if the Apple App Review process takes months. Have Apple developers look through your code and REALLY test it. But would developers like this?

There are still murders, robberies, other criminal acts. Does that mean the police does nothing?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RedTheReader Avatar
32 months ago

In simple terms, macOS apps aren't a single file but a bundle of different files that the app needs to work,
Everything Is a File™
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MauiPa Avatar
32 months ago
"The report says the bug was exploited for months, but it's unclear how many users were impacted." What report? A report is not mentioned in the article.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lkrupp Avatar
32 months ago
Security updates for Mojave and Catalina out now that patch the same security issues.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Mock Header With Dynamic Island

Skipping the iPhone 15 Pro? Here's What's Rumored for iPhone 16 Pro

Friday September 22, 2023 9:29 am PDT by
Are you skipping the iPhone 15 Pro and waiting another year to upgrade? If so, we already have some iPhone 16 Pro rumors for you. Below, we recap new features rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro models so far:Larger displays: The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively, according to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain...
Update Your iPhone 15 to iOS 17

Warning: Update Your iPhone 15 to iOS 17.0.2 Before Transferring Data From Another iPhone

Friday September 22, 2023 6:36 am PDT by
If you are unboxing an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max today, make sure to update the device to iOS 17.0.2 before transferring data to the device from another iPhone, or else you might encounter issues. iOS 17.0.2 is only available for the iPhone 15 lineup. Apple says the update fixes an issue that may prevent transferring data directly from another iPhone...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1 With Bug Fixes, Plus iOS 17.0.2 for iPhone 15 Models

Thursday September 21, 2023 10:28 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1 updates for the iPhone and the iPad, adding bug fixes to the new software. The iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1 updates come just a few days after Apple launched iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. The software, which is build 21A340, can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. There is a...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 double tap gesture 230912

watchOS 10.1 to Enable Apple Watch's New 'Double Tap' Gesture

Thursday September 21, 2023 12:52 pm PDT by
The new Double Tap gesture for the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be enabled starting with watchOS 10.1, according to Marques Brownlee, host of the popular tech-focused YouTube channel MKBHD. The first beta of watchOS 10.1 will likely be available by next week, and Apple announced that the software update will be released next month. Brownlee shared his impressions...