Surprise! Microsoft helps arch rival Apple to fix macOS, save users from hackers

Microsoft researchers have alerted Apple to a vulnerability in the latest version of macOS that could be utilized by hackers. macOS Monterey was released just last week.

Microsoft and Apple have been rivals for a long time. However, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates had helped Apple co-founder Steve Jobs by providing funds during a difficult phase. (REUTERS)

Microsoft and Apple have long had different visions for computing, which puts these arch rivals trying to outdo each other every year. This year, we have the new Windows 11 going up against macOS Monterey, which is leaving us consumers with solid operating systems to play with. However, they often help finding security vulnerabilities and Microsoft has helped do just that.

The researchers have helped find a vulnerability that could help hackers to exploit the system and carry out other operations. Microsoft says that “enable an attacker to bypass System Integrity Safety (SIP) in macOS and carry out arbitrary operations on a tool.” The bug Apple macOS allowed a possible attacker to put in a {hardware} interface that permits them to “overwrite system recordsdata, or set up persistent, undetectable malware”.

Microsoft alerts Apple for macOS bug

“We additionally discovered an analogous approach that would enable an attacker to raise their privileges to root an affected machine. We shared these findings with Apple via Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure (CVD) through Microsoft Security Vulnerability Research (MSVR),” Microsoft 365 Defender Analysis Staff stated in an announcement.

Apple has already issued a repair for this vulnerability, which is known as CVE-2021-30892, in its latest safety replace.

“We discovered that the vulnerability lies in how Apple-signed packages with post-install scripts are put in. A malicious actor might create a specifically crafted file that might hijack the set up course of,” said the Microsoft researchers.

It is said the issues had then allowed the attacker to then set up a malicious kernel driver (rootkit), overwrite system recordsdata, or set up persistent, undetectable malware, amongst others. As networks change into more and more heterogeneous, the variety of threats that try to compromise non-Home windows devices additionally will increase.

Microsoft also took the opportunity to highlight its security system for Mac gadgets. “The Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Mac is organizations to realize visibility and detect threats on macOS gadgets,” said Microsoft.

“This analysis underscores the significance of collaboration amongst safety researchers, software program distributors, and the bigger safety group,” Microsoft added.