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Considering Mojave is the last Mac OS that supports 32 bit apps, hopefully they will backport this fix to that OS as well.
Apple can do a better job of letting us know when an OS is actually no longer supported.

Mojave's successor Catalina added a lot of hardening to the privacy controls, and they're not going to backport that.
 
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TCC is 10 years old now, and today is the first time that I've heard of it. 🥴

Here's an article from months ago talking about its history, design and weaknesses...

I'm surprised that Apple is using an SQL database for this. They have used XML-based plists (ie. "property lists") forever, and then took over the FoundationDB project, which I always thought would be fast, efficient and secure replacement. (Why isn't FoundationDB being used yet? Anyone know? Is it overkill?)

SQLite is a solid embedded database solution, but this seriously feels like a weakness when the database itself can be compromised simply by replacing a file on disk.
I have zero qualifications to answer your question as I do not work on the macOS team or at Apple but I imagine replacing something like this is always time consuming and will produce bugs that need to be found. Developers always have to consider whether it's worth it to jump to newer technology.
 
Love to see Microsoft, Google, and Apple working together for our safety and security.

You just know companies like Facebook and Verizon would exploit these holes—and probably do.
Wouldnt apple just muck them ? Not help them ?
 
I'm surprised that Apple is using an SQL database for this. They have used XML-based plists (ie. "property lists") forever,

They could've put the info in a plist instead, yep. Maybe they wanted multiple forms of queries, e.g.:

SELECT * FROM access WHERE client == 'com.microsoft.VSCode';

SELECT * FROM access WHERE service == 'kTCCServiceAccessibility';

A plist locks you into either of those two: you either structure the file based on the client, or base on the service, but not both (or you end up with redundant data).

and then took over the FoundationDB project, which I always thought would be fast, efficient and secure replacement. (Why isn't FoundationDB being used yet? Anyone know? Is it overkill?)

It's a distributed database, so it was probably never intended for their client OSes, but rather for iCloud.

SQLite is a solid embedded database solution, but this seriously feels like a weakness when the database itself can be compromised simply by replacing a file on disk.

It can't, though — generally speaking, you can't write to that file without SIP off.
 
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They should reallocate their resources and focus more on their own vulnerabilities. There are a disproportionate number of windows security holes vs macOS security issues.
This literally isn't true. Apple (Mac OS, iOS, etc.) has had a significant number of vulnerabilities reported in 2021.


* As a caveat, you need to bundle many vulnerabilities together across the software package noted. I.e: Windows 10 shares many of the same vulnerabilities as Windows Server, etc. Just like MacOS and iOS share many of the same.
 
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Mojave's successor Catalina added a lot of hardening to the privacy controls, and they're not going to backport that.
They won't, sorry. They only support 2 OSes back, no matter what. The only real exception was when they had to renew the the certificates that OS installed check before running. There's a chance someone else could fix this, like what we see in the unofficial 10.5.9 "Sorbet Leopard" build. There's also a chance the bug doesn't exist outside of macOS 12 and 11, since Apple overhauled a lot of things in 11. I don't see any listings online to indicate this reign fixed in 10.15, nor any stating it needed/needs to be fixed. However, Apple's documentation has been less than par lately.
 
They won't, sorry. They only support 2 OSes back, no matter what.

Yeah, that's what I said?

There's also a chance the bug doesn't exist outside of macOS 12 and 11, since Apple overhauled a lot of things in 11.

I'm guessing the bug does "exist" in the sense that Mojave's TCC was a lot less strict — but to make it stricter, you'd need to significantly change that subsystem, which is too much of an undertaking to be worth it to Apple.

I don't see any listings online to indicate this reign fixed in 10.15, nor any stating it needed/needs to be fixed. However, Apple's documentation has been less than par lately.

Various TCC bugs were fixed in 10.15, but not this particular one. Unclear if it's affected.
 
This literally isn't true. Apple (Mac OS, iOS, etc.) has had a significant number of vulnerabilities reported in 2021.


* As a caveat, you need to bundle many vulnerabilities together across the software package noted. I.e: Windows 10 shares many of the same vulnerabilities as Windows Server, etc. Just like MacOS and iOS share many of the same.
Still fares far better than Windows.

Screenshot 2022-01-10 at 22.17.13.png
Screenshot 2022-01-10 at 22.17.29.png


Showing PC OS only.
 
They should reallocate their resources and focus more on their own vulnerabilities. There are a disproportionate number of windows security holes vs macOS security issues.

Microsoft creates software for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Android etc.

Monitoring vulnerabilities across all platforms they create software for is in their best interest.

It's surprising this needs to be explained to anyone at all to be honest.
 
Mojave's successor Catalina added a lot of hardening to the privacy controls, and they're not going to backport that.
Which doesn't address the fact that Mojave is the last MacOS that supports 32 bit apps though.
You see, Apple released iOS 12.5.5 in 2021. In other words, they CAN support the older OS if they wanted to.
 
Microsoft creates software for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Android etc.

Monitoring vulnerabilities across all platforms they create software for is in their best interest.

It's surprising this needs to be explained to anyone at all to be honest.

Their security research team also isn't the same as their OS development team.
 
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Which doesn't address the fact that Mojave is the last MacOS that supports 32 bit apps though.

Yes, and 10.5 is the last macOS that supports PowerPC. Also, 8.1 was the last Mac OS to support 68k.

Old stuff gets killed off, at some point.

You see, Apple released iOS 12.5.5 in 2021. In other words, they CAN support the older OS.

They can, but don't hold your breath for any further Mojave updates. They might happen, but they probably won't.
 
Some of you don't understand Microsoft. They are one of the top security companies in the world. Do yourself a favor and look up their Security Graph.

One issue I have with security hunters is when they release the vulnerability to the public before the vendor has an opportunity to fix it (Google). I'm happy to see this was not disclosed until after a fix was available.
 
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Apple has a history of crediting BIG companies if they discover something, but small companies rarely get ANY recognition OR compensation !

Still, glad this issue is making the rounds today !
 
Nope, it isn't, that's OS X. ?
If u are serious..... macOS is everything but OS X but in name. In fact to get the real number you have to add them both together 604 for macOS and 2956 for OS X and you get 3406 which means it's actually third not 4th.

And yes I'm aware the same adds up if add all windows together that are ntfs based.
 
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Shouldn’t MSFT focus on finding and addressing their own security holes?
"Tackle that guy!"
"Not my job."
"You're just standing there and he bumped into you as he ran by!"
"Not my job. I was supposed to block that guy over there but he ran right instead of left."
"That guy scored because we have prima donnas on our defense!"

They should reallocate their resources and focus more on their own vulnerabilities. There are a disproportionate number of windows security holes vs macOS security issues.
Fake news. There, I said it; deal with it. ?
Just because this is an apple-focused site doesn’t mean we hate other companies.
Amen! ?
They are literally helping out macOS users for free and you have nothing else to do but complain?
I know, right?
Wouldnt apple just muck them ? Not help them ?
Let that happen and let it become common knowledge. Nobody has their market locked down THAT tightly that they'll survive outright and blatant morality lapses. Not Microsoft, and not Apple.
Apple has a history of crediting BIG companies if they discover something, but small companies rarely get ANY recognition OR compensation !

Still, glad this issue is making the rounds today !
Ooh! Ohh! I know why!
Why give credit to a company when it might just end up costing you more to acquire them?
If u are serious..... macOS is everything but OS X but in name. In fact to get the real number you have to add them both together 604 for macOS and 2956 for OS X and you get 3406 which means it's actually third not 4th.

And yes I'm aware the same adds up if add all windows together that are ntfs based.
In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean Blue. You confused me so much I had to go back to rhyming to make my head stop hurting! ?
 
Considering Mojave is the last Mac OS that supports 32 bit apps, hopefully they will backport this fix to that OS as well.
Apple can do a better job of letting us know when an OS is actually no longer supported.
I’d argue High Sierra should take that last 32-bit OS spot. But even so, I highly doubt apple will update any 32-bit OS at this point, especially after the transition to Apple Silicon.
 
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I’d argue High Sierra should take that last 32-bit OS spot. But even so, I highly doubt apple will update any 32-bit OS at this point, especially after the transition to Apple Silicon.
Sigh, if it is a big enough of a security issue, then they can and shall better fix it.
Like I said, Apple even released iOS 12.5.5 in September 2021, which is 3 years after initial release.
 
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