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Apple Forcing Panther Upgrade for Security Patch

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the well-thats-a-bit-stingy dept.

The Raindog writes "I noticed over at Tech Report that Apple is apparently only offering its latest round of OS X security fixes to Panther users, leaving older versions of OS X out in the cold. " Update: 10/31 by J : But see the next day's story.

8 of 605 comments (clear)

  1. Bugtraq links by chennes · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here are the bugtraq links to the specific vulnerabilities:

    Arbitrary File Overwrite via Core Files
    Systemic Insecure File Permissions
    Long argv[] buffer overflow

    If it is going to be Apple's policy to not provide support for previous operating systems from the day the new one comes out it is going to be very, very difficult for them to break into the enterprise world. Even Microsoft provides support for operating systems for a few years after the new one is released. Maybe if enough people submit a bug report Apple will do something about it.

    1. Re:Bugtraq links by gclef · · Score: 4, Informative

      What's interesting (and/or disappointing) about this story is that all of the quotes I could see in the actual article were pulled straight from the Bugtraq thread about this. It appears that the reporter did no actual work besides paraphrasing and cut/paste from public emails.

  2. Not True... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    While Apple no longer releases point releases on prior releases of OS X, they DO release Security Releases. I think we all need to give them some time to finish the patch and post the update. Apple has *never* left users out in the dark, especially with recent releases (i.e. 10.2, 10.1). I know several users who are still using 10.1 and have received several security patches.

    1. Re:Not True... by prockcore · · Score: 4, Informative

      oh really? Then where is the SSH patch for 10.1?

  3. Re:As a long time Mac user, I'm not surprised. by bizard · · Score: 5, Informative
    I can't remember anytime Apple has ever released an update for a non-current version of MacOS.
    actually, apple has been releasing 10.1 security patches all through the 10.2 lifespan. In addition they have been patching Mac OS 9 as well. This would truly be a change of attitude if it is true, but I imagine there will be enough hue and cry to fix it.
  4. This does not effect 10.2.x by cplater · · Score: 4, Informative

    From http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/ 2003/Oct/28/applesa20031028securityu.txt (login: archives password:archives):

    >The issue does not exist in earlier versions of Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server.

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    -- Charles A. Plater
  5. Here's the real story by saddino · · Score: 4, Informative

    This article helps put this FUD into perspective. Apple bashers need not read it, since they've already made up their minds.

  6. You need to RTFA by petard · · Score: 4, Informative

    Most of it only speculates as to Apple's intent. Here is the only part relevant to their actual intent:

    Apple declined comment.

    Sure, they should have pronounced their intent to fix the problems but they have certainly NOT stated that the intent is to leave 10.2.x unpatched.

    The article is a bit misleading, as well. For instance, it fails to note that the @stake advisory in question (core files can be used to overwrite arbitrary files) pertains to a facility that is disabled in all Apple-supplied 10.2 installations.

    In short, they should fix it. Soon. They haven't said they won't, though, and it's been *almost* two days. I'm taking a "wait and see" approach on this one.

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