Apple has issued a security patch for its Safari Web browser, fixing the flaw that earned one security researcher US$10,000 at the CanSecWest security conference.The flaw was exploited by Independent Security Evaluators Researcher Charlie Miller to gain access to a MacBook Air computer three weeks ago. It lies in the WebKit open-source HTML rendering engine used by Safari and several other Mac OS X programs. The bug lay in the way WebKit would process certain specially crafted JavaScript commands. In order to exploit the flaw, Miller had to first make the contest organizers visit a special Web site that contained his malicious JavaScript code.There was one other winner in the CanSecWest PWN 2 OWN contest, which invited hackers to try to break into Windows, Mac and Linux computers. Shane Macaulay, a researcher with the Security Objectives consultancy, hacked into a Vista machine using an Adobe Flash Player bug, which was patched last week. WebKit is also part of Apple’s Dashboard and Mail software. An Apple spokesman could not say whether users of those products were also at risk from this attack.In an e-mail interview, Miller said anything that used an older version of WebKit would be vulnerable. This might include Linux browsers and mobile-phone browsers, he said. A second WebKit flaw, patched Wednesday, could lead to a cross-site scripting attack, in which an attacker can do things such as steal the login credentials or log the keystrokes of a victim.Both the Windows and Mac OS X versions of Safari are vulnerable to these WebKit flaws, Apple said in its security advisory.The Safari 3.1.1 update also includes fixes for a pair of Safari-for-Windows vulnerabilities that could possibly be exploited by attackers to run unauthorized software on a victim’s computer and to make a fake phishing Web page appear to have a legitimate Web address. Related content feature Top cybersecurity M&A deals for 2023 Fears of recession, rising interest rates, mass tech layoffs, and conservative spending trends are likely to make dealmakers cautious, but an ever-increasing need to defend against bigger and faster attacks will likely keep M&A activity steady in By CSO Staff Sep 22, 2023 24 mins Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions brandpost Unmasking ransomware threat clusters: Why it matters to defenders Similar patterns of behavior among ransomware treat groups can help security teams better understand and prepare for attacks By Joan Goodchild Sep 21, 2023 3 mins Cybercrime news analysis China’s offensive cyber operations support “soft power” agenda in Africa Researchers track Chinese cyber espionage intrusions targeting African industrial sectors. By Michael Hill Sep 21, 2023 5 mins Advanced Persistent Threats Cyberattacks Critical Infrastructure brandpost Proactive OT security requires visibility + prevention You cannot protect your operation by simply watching and waiting. It is essential to have a defense-in-depth approach. By Austen Byers Sep 21, 2023 4 mins Security Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe