macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 Beta 6 Fixes Root Password Vulnerability

[MacRumors]

The newest beta of macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 fixes a major macOS High Sierra vulnerability that enabled the root superuser on a Mac with no password and no security check.

Apple on Wednesday released a security update to fix the problem on machines running the current release version of macOS High Sierra, 10.13.1, but the bug has remained in macOS 10.13.2 until today.

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Developers and public beta testers who are running macOS 10.13.2 should update to beta 6 right away to protect their Macs. MacRumors has confirmed that the vulnerability, which involved entering the username "root" with no password in the Users & Groups section of System Preferences, is no longer functional.

Entering "root" without a password in lieu of an administrator's username and password no longer unlocks a Mac.

When releasing the fix for macOS High Sierra 10.13.1, Apple apologized for the oversight and said it would audit its development processes to prevent something similar from happening in the future.

"We greatly regret this error and we apologize to all Mac users, both for releasing with this vulnerability and for the concern it has caused," read a statement from Apple provided to MacRumors.

Article Link: macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 Beta 6 Fixes Root Password Vulnerability

 

[realeric]

Apple, please go back to basic. Reduce number of models. Lower the prices. Work on Mac mini, $649 iPhone X1, iPad running macOS, ...

 

[theheadguy]

I respect the accountability Apple has taken for this egregious oversight.

 

[iShater]

Apple, please go back to basic. Reduce number of models. Lower the prices. Work on Mac mini, $649 iPhone X1, iPad running macOS, ...

You remember back in the day when there were bazillion models and nobody could tell the difference between them? bad days.

 

[TheTissot11]

Please fix the bugs with Spotlight and Finder that have been existing since Yosemite...

 

[TsMkLg068426]

Apple time to get into technology not what looks cool and overpriced for just fanboys.

 

[dogslobber]

Where is the PowerPC build of High Sierra? We're still waiting...

 

[Norbs12]

Anyone know what the second security update was that came out today for non-beta High Sierra? I saw the root update a few days ago and now this too?

 

[Swift]

Latest style at Apple sites: the anti-fanboy!

 

[Martyimac]

That's it, I'm done with Apple's beta testing program. Sixth time in a row a beta couldn't be installed. I'm tired of un-enrolling then re enrolling just to get a beta installed.
Three strikes and you are out Apple.

 

[Jerry Fritschle]

Anyone know what the second security update was that came out today for non-beta High Sierra? I saw the root update a few days ago and now this too?

AFAIK, the first update broke file sharing for some users, and the second one addressed that. As with the initial bug, Apple had previously issued a statement with the workaround.

 

[Kaibelf]

That's it, I'm done with Apple's beta testing program. Third time in a row a beta couldn't be installed. I'm tired of un-enrolling then re enrolling just to get a beta installed.
Three strikes and you are out Apple.

Did you use terminal to install? It’s a lot easier to just use:

sudo softwareupdate -ia

Works very consistently for me and none of that enrollment stuff. That said, you seem to be pretty heated at finding that beta software isn’t perfect at all things. Why even participate if it upsets you like that?

 

[KPOM]

That's it, I'm done with Apple's beta testing program. Third time in a row a beta couldn't be installed. I'm tired of un-enrolling then re enrolling just to get a beta installed.
Three strikes and you are out Apple.

What Mac are you running? I’ve never had an issue getting a beta installed.

 

[Martyimac]

What Mac are you running? I’ve never had an issue getting a beta installed.

2011 mini with an OWC SSD. It's only happened the last 6 betas of HS. Never before.

 

[amaze1499]

What Mac are you running? I’ve never had an issue getting a beta installed.

That’s why it’s called beta testing. Thanks.

 

[Martyimac]

Did you use terminal to install? It’s a lot easier to just use:

sudo softwareupdate -ia

Works very consistently for me and none of that enrollment stuff. That said, you seem to be pretty heated at finding that beta software isn’t perfect at all things. Why even participate if it upsets you like that?

Not that heated, just disgusted. This has become an exercise in frustration. It appears that Apple doesn't care how frustrating they make it for the beta testers. And just checking the reports I have submitted, six (6) times the HS betas have failed to install going back to Oct. 26th, one for each beta step. That is how many bug reports I have submitted on the exact same issue.
I fully understand what beta testing is and I expect bugs. As a matter of act I have submitted 33 bug reports. But I also expect apple to make an attempt to fix them. So to me, it looks like apple doesn't care. Never had this issue with the Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite betas. And yes, all on the same machine configured the same for all four betas.
As to the terminal install, I am not that savvy and have never heard of your method. Don't bother to explain though. If I cool off and stay as a beta tester, I'll continue on in apples program. That way at least I'm doing it the "official" way.

 

[Donovan Dillon]

Not that heated, just disgusted. This has become an exercise in frustration. It appears that Apple doesn't care how frustrating they make it for the beta testers. And just checking the reports I have submitted, six (6) times the HS betas have failed to install going back to Oct. 26th, one for each beta step. That is how many bug reports I have submitted on the exact same issue.
I fully understand what beta testing is and I expect bugs. As a matter of act I have submitted 33 bug reports. But I also expect apple to make an attempt to fix them. So to me, it looks like apple doesn't care. Never had this issue with the Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite betas. And yes, all on the same machine configured the same for all four betas.
As to the terminal install, I am not that savvy and have never heard of your method. Don't bother to explain though. If I cool off and stay as a beta tester, I'll continue on in apples program. That way at least I'm doing it the "official" way.

I’ve been beta testing for years with numerous Macs and have never once encountered the issue you’ve described with any beta including none of the High Sierra betas. This is also the first report I’ve seen of the issue you’re describing. Is it possible that there is an issue with your setup? Have you tried wiping your mini and doing a clean install of the latest stable release, then performing the beta update?

 

[Martyimac]

I’ve been beta testing for years with numerous Macs and have never once encountered the issue you’ve described with any beta including none of the High Sierra betas. This is also the first report I’ve seen of the issue you’re describing. Is it possible that there is an issue with your setup? Have you tried wiping your mini and doing a clean install of the latest stable release, then performing the beta update?

If you mean completely starting from scratch with no operating system then the answer is no. But then that also means my bug reports should be valid because this issue only started with the HS beta for the .2 release. It did not happen for the .1 betas, not once.

 

[Kaibelf]

Not that heated, just disgusted. This has become an exercise in frustration. It appears that Apple doesn't care how frustrating they make it for the beta testers. And just checking the reports I have submitted, six (6) times the HS betas have failed to install going back to Oct. 26th, one for each beta step. That is how many bug reports I have submitted on the exact same issue.
I fully understand what beta testing is and I expect bugs. As a matter of act I have submitted 33 bug reports. But I also expect apple to make an attempt to fix them. So to me, it looks like apple doesn't care. Never had this issue with the Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite betas. And yes, all on the same machine configured the same for all four betas.
As to the terminal install, I am not that savvy and have never heard of your method. Don't bother to explain though. If I cool off and stay as a beta tester, I'll continue on in apples program. That way at least I'm doing it the "official" way.

Fair enough, but just for the record the terminal method is far from a hack or anything unofficial. It’s just a basic single command line entry.

 

[justperry]

Developers and public beta testers who are running macOS 10.13.2 should update to beta 6 right away to protect their Macs.

Erm, what about...NO, there's no urgency in updating if root is enabled and a password is set.

 

[Martyimac]

Did you use terminal to install? It’s a lot easier to just use:

sudo softwareupdate -ia

Works very consistently for me and none of that enrollment stuff.

You have my curiosity piqued. I googled what you did and while I can see why it works, wouldn't the end result still produce a couldn't install error?

 

[ChrisA]

2011 mini with an OWC SSD. It's only happened the last 6 betas of HS. Never before.

Why are you upset about finding a bug in a Beta release you should be HAPPY. After all this is the entire point of Beta, to find bugs. So you did something useful. I hope you file a report other then just here.

All those people who say "Works for me>" are actually useless to the beta program It means they did not try hard enough to find bugs.

 

[Martyimac]

Why are you upset about finding a bug in a Beta release you should be HAPPY. After all this is the entire point of Beta, to find bugs. So you did something useful. I hope you file a report other then just here.

All those people who say "Works for me>" are actually useless to the beta program It means they did not try hard enough to find bugs.

Might I suggest you go back and read post #16.

 

[ChrisA]

Erm, what about...NO, there's no urgency in updating if root is enabled and a password is set.

It would be interesting to know what their development process is. It likely involves trying to determine how many users are affected by each bug and then ranking the bugs. At least that is what we would do back when I was in the business. I'd have a meeting every week to assign priorities to bugs and feature requests and to sign an engineer to the top ranked bugs.

With Apple it is like also important if the bug effects new computers or only older ones. They like car a lot more about new computers.

That said. Apple is now a cell phone company.

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

I don't know if anyone noticed, but this update also lets you format a standard Hard Drive in APFS vs. HFS.

I couldn't do that before. It wasn't an option. I haven't tried it yet. Anyone have some experience doing it?