screenapple.txt

`Hi all,  
  
three days ago i discovered a security issue, with the last MacOSX.   
  
there is a way to crash the screensaver locked with password and gain  
the desktop.  
  
how? - you ask.  
i don't know the exact amount of characters, only that if you leave a  
key pressed for 5 minutes or more and then hit the enter key, you crash  
the screensaver and gain access to the desktop.  
you can mess the desktop and all around it (network, mail, docs,  
anything you can imagine).  
  
i think that this is a huge secure hole and it must be corrected.  
  
i hope that this is good for everyone who cares about "how to secure  
your desktop".  
  
solution?  
wait until someone at the apple make a patch and realise it...  
  
here is the mail that i've sent to apple security people, they didn't  
replied :(  
  
-- BEGIN APPLE MESSAGE --  
To:   
[email protected]  
Subject:   
[BUG] forgot your screensaver  
password ?? Hackit anyway  
Hi all  
  
(tested machines at the bottom of this message)  
  
sorry about the subject, but there is a problem with the auth prompt  
when you have the screensaver running.  
  
i do not know the exact amount of characters to make the auth prompt  
blow up, but here is what i do:  
  
with the screensaver runnig, leave something at the top of the keyboard  
and leave it there for 5 or more minutes, then hit ENTER.  
The screensaver dies and you have your desktop open to anyone.  
  
desktop open, network open, hackers go away :)  
  
i'll wait for an answer until 3 of Jully and then send this problem to  
[email protected] and [email protected]  
  
  
if you need more time, please tell me that i'll wait until the patch be  
ready to deploy.  
  
  
OS tested: didn't get a mac not updated ... (uname -a)  
(Powerbook)  
Darwin roadrunner 6.6 Darwin Kernel Version 6.6: Thu May 1 21:48:54 PDT  
2003; root:xnu/xnu-344.34.obj~1/RELEASE_PPC Power Macintosh powerpc  
(iMac)  
Darwin MacLulo 6.6 Darwin Kernel Version 6.6: Thu May 1 21:48:54 PDT  
2003; root:xnu/xnu-344.34.obj~1/RELEASE_PPC Power Macintosh powerpc  
(Powerbook)  
Darwin Proenca-Powerbook17 6.6 Darwin Kernel Version 6.6: Thu May 1  
21:48:54 PDT 2003; root:xnu/xnu-344.34.obj~1/RELEASE_PPC Power  
Macintosh powerpc  
  
PS: MacOSX r0x, keep on the good way!  
  
-- END APPLE MESSAGE --  
  
  
Cheers  
--  
Delfim Machado - [email protected]  
XPTO:: Portuguese OpenSource Community - http://lab.xpto.org  
`