Bugtraq mailing list archives
Re: Another Mac OS X ScreenSaver Security Issue (after Security Update 2003-07-14)
From: Randy Kaelber <randall () nimitz net>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 23:45:53 -0700
On Thu, Jul 31, 2003 at 01:21:28PM -0400, Rizwan Jiwan wrote:
I wouldn't consider this a bug. It is like me writing a script that kills any process named "ScreenSaverEngine". If I run it with my privileges it should allow me to kill the process (assuming I own ScreenSaverEngine). Escape Pod does what it is meant to. OS X does what it is meant to--that is unless you are suggesting that the operating system not allow the user to kill the screen saver process which is just stupid because I have had my screen saver crash on me.
I agree. It's no more a security hole than having Ctrl-Alt-Backspace enabled to kill one's X server when one starts X from the command line with "startx" rather than "exec startx". This is a matter of good security practice. Relying on a screensaver app to provide you with real security is probably not a good security practice. Sticking a Post-it note on one's monitor with root password written on it is certainly a bad security practice. However, neither of these practices are the fault of the software. Basing exceptions to rules on the name of the executable running sounds like a path towards madness, as well. -- Randy Kaelber
Current thread:
- Re: Another Mac OS X ScreenSaver Security Issue (after Security Update 2003-07-14) Randy Kaelber (Aug 01)