Crash Apps by simply typing File:///

VPrime · Feb 2, 2013, 02:22 AM

Hey I just found this on hackernews, and thought I would mention it here also.

If you type File:/// in native apps, and many 3rd party apps it will cause the application to crash.
Textedit, spotlight, finder, safari, mail.. even iMessage.

I tried sending an iMessage from my iPhone to my iMac saying File:/// it crashed the iMacs iMessage app. I also can not relaunch the messages app on the iMac as it crashes every time due to that incoming message.

mrsir2009 · Feb 2, 2013, 03:14 AM

Could you send an iMessage from your iPhone to your Mac saying File:/// and the Mac's iMessage would crash?

Partron22 · Feb 2, 2013, 08:10 AM

File:///

That's fairly nasty.
It brings down AppleScript Editor, and Notes, not my browser.

gmanist1000 · Feb 2, 2013, 11:37 AM

Just saw this on 9to5Mac. Let's see if they patch it in 10.8.3

Joesg · Feb 2, 2013, 12:39 PM

If you type File:/// in pretty much any text field in 10.8 or later, it will crash the program.

This site will crash Safari, but not Chrome:
http://grack.com/hangsafari.html

mindlessmissy · Feb 2, 2013, 12:50 PM

I just crashed AppleScriptEditor with this and when I went into Console to see the reason for the crash, Console ALSO crashed ...

GGJstudios · Feb 2, 2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VPrime

If you type File:/// in native apps, and many 3rd party apps it will cause the application to crash.

So why would you ever find it necessary to type that, anyway?

Patient: "Doc, it hurts when I do this."
Doctor: "So don't do that!"

Partron22 · Feb 2, 2013, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

So why would you ever find it necessary to type that, anyway?

It's like muttering 'Voldemort' under your breath; sometimes it just has to be done.

Futurix · Feb 2, 2013, 02:41 PM

I think it just crashed my Spotlight

VPrime · Feb 2, 2013, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsir2009

Could you send an iMessage from your iPhone to your Mac saying File:/// and the Mac's iMessage would crash?

Yes.. It will crash the recipients iMessage app on the Mac.. It will also make it impossible to open again.
I'm told sending 80 additional messages will cause messages to open again, at which time you can delete the conversation.

thejadedmonkey · Feb 2, 2013, 02:55 PM

And that's why you always sanitize inputs..

mrsir2009 · Feb 2, 2013, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

So why would you ever find it necessary to type that, anyway?

Patient: "Doc, it hurts when I do this."
Doctor: "So don't do that!"

You could sabotage other people's iMessage application...

...Just sayin'

Puevlo · Feb 2, 2013, 06:37 PM

What a disaster.

dmrowley · Feb 2, 2013, 07:08 PM

Filecolonslashslashslashcrashgate...

Porco · Feb 2, 2013, 07:18 PM

Two forward slashes ought to be enough for anybody!

WrrN · Feb 2, 2013, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porco

Two forward slashes ought to be enough for anybody!

On the www, yes.

Mr. Retrofire · Feb 2, 2013, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VPrime

Hey I just found this on hackernews, and thought I would mention it here also.

If you type File:/// in native apps, and many 3rd party apps it will cause the application to crash.
Textedit, spotlight, finder, safari, mail...

AFAIK, this does not work on Leopard and Snow Leopard. If this is real, then it is probably a new feature of Lion/Mountain Lion.

sammich · 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VPrime

Yes.. It will crash the recipients iMessage app on the Mac.. It will also make it impossible to open again.
I'm told sending 80 additional messages will cause messages to open again, at which time you can delete the conversation.

Or, could you just delete that message from an iOS device?

EDIT: I just sent 'FiIe:///' to a group message.

Spink10 · Feb 2, 2013, 09:00 PM

I tried it - was fun!

Watabou · Feb 2, 2013, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

So why would you ever find it necessary to type that, anyway?

Patient: "Doc, it hurts when I do this."
Doctor: "So don't do that!"

The point here is that it's an easy mistake to make and the apps shouldn't crash but instead give an error.

Jessica Lares · Feb 2, 2013, 10:24 PM

Doesn't work in Terminal though.

MisterKeeks · Feb 2, 2013, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Retrofire

AFAIK, this does not work on Leopard and Snow Leopard. If this is real, then it is probably a new feature of Lion/Mountain Lion.

It does not work on SL. When I get home I will fire up one of my PowerPCs and test Leopard, but it's a pretty safe bet that it won't work.

justperry · Feb 2, 2013, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterKeeks

It does not work on SL. When I get home I will fire up one of my PowerPCs and test Leopard, but it's a pretty safe bet that it won't work.

Don't bother, it is not an issue on Leopard, I tried, no problem.

Peace · Feb 3, 2013, 12:08 AM

I have no idea why anyone would type that unless it was a mistake but I can say that bug is in 10.8.3 build 12D61 . Lets hope the burgeoning stories about it makes the engineers work with those data sets.

turtlez · Feb 3, 2013, 01:32 AM

I could see this being used in trolling methods. Hope Apple fixes it soon :P

Feb 2, 2013, 02:22 AM	#1
VPrime macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: London Ontario	Crash Apps by simply typing File:/// Hey I just found this on hackernews, and thought I would mention it here also. If you type File:/// in native apps, and many 3rd party apps it will cause the application to crash. Textedit, spotlight, finder, safari, mail.. even iMessage. I tried sending an iMessage from my iPhone to my iMac saying File:/// it crashed the iMacs iMessage app. I also can not relaunch the messages app on the iMac as it crashes every time due to that incoming message. __________________ www.gamepressapp.com - @GamePressApp - Facebook @MurtazaSaadat
	2

Feb 2, 2013, 03:14 AM	#2
mrsir2009 macrumors 604 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Wellington, New Zealand	Could you send an iMessage from your iPhone to your Mac saying File:/// and the Mac's iMessage would crash? __________________ How to Prevent your Mac from Overheating
	0

Feb 2, 2013, 11:37 AM	#4
gmanist1000 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2009	Just saw this on 9to5Mac. Let's see if they patch it in 10.8.3 __________________ Tech Reviews on YouTube http://goo.gl/3zjZP Latest Video: Bose AE2w Bluetooth Headphones Review
	0

Feb 2, 2013, 12:39 PM	#5
Joesg macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: East Coast, USA	Fun Mountain Lion bug If you type File:/// in pretty much any text field in 10.8 or later, it will crash the program. This site will crash Safari, but not Chrome: http://grack.com/hangsafari.html
	1

Feb 2, 2013, 12:50 PM	#6
mindlessmissy macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2012	Lol ... I just crashed AppleScriptEditor with this and when I went into Console to see the reason for the crash, Console ALSO crashed ...
	2

Feb 2, 2013, 08:10 AM	#3
Partron22 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2011	File:/// That's fairly nasty. It brings down AppleScript Editor, and Notes, not my browser.
	0

Feb 2, 2013, 02:41 PM	#9
Futurix macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: London	I think it just crashed my Spotlight
	0

Feb 2, 2013, 02:55 PM	#11
thejadedmonkey macrumors 604 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pa	And that's why you always sanitize inputs.. __________________ MacBook Air • 17" MacBook Pro • iPod Nano • Apple TV Custom Windows 7 Desktop • Surface RT • WP7 "Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment." - Mulla Nasrudin
	0

Feb 2, 2013, 06:37 PM	#13
Puevlo macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2011	What a disaster.
	1

Feb 2, 2013, 07:08 PM	#14
dmrowley macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Dortches, NC	Filecolonslashslashslashcrashgate... __________________ 2012 Mini 2.5Ghz i5, 2010 3.2 Ghz i3 21.5" iMac, 2009 2.53 Ghz 15" MacBook Pro 64G iPhone 5, 32G iPad 4, Airport Extreme, Airport Express, Apple TV2, Apple Battery Charger, ...
	2

Feb 2, 2013, 07:18 PM	#15
Porco macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2005	Two forward slashes ought to be enough for anybody! __________________ I really wish Apple would use the option key a little more, and the command key a little less. --- Sent from my magical iPowerMacBookG5PadPhonePod 50inch AppleTV Extreme Pro ---
	2

Feb 2, 2013, 09:00 PM	#19
Spink10 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Nov 2011	I tried it - was fun! __________________ cMBP 2012 15" 2.7, 8GB, Samsung 830 256GB, 650M 1GB, Hi-Res AG / MBA 2011 11" 1.6, 4GB, 128GB SSD / iMac 2011 27" 2.7, 12GB, 1TB HD, 6770M 512MB / iPhone 5 16GB / iPad 4 16GB / Time Capsule 2TB
	1

Feb 2, 2013, 10:24 PM	#21
Jessica Lares macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA	Doesn't work in Terminal though. __________________  Have You Hugged Your Mac Today? Daily Expressions \| Power Mac G5 \| Late 2011 13" MacBook Pro \| iPod Nano (7G) \| iPod Shuffle (2012) \| iPad Mini
	0

Feb 3, 2013, 12:08 AM	#24
Peace macrumors P6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Space--The ONLY Frontier	I have no idea why anyone would type that unless it was a mistake but I can say that bug is in 10.8.3 build 12D61 . Lets hope the burgeoning stories about it makes the engineers work with those data sets.
	0

Feb 3, 2013, 01:32 AM	#25
turtlez Banned Join Date: Jun 2012	I could see this being used in trolling methods. Hope Apple fixes it soon :P
	0

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