MySpace Demands Apple Change Quicktime To Fix MySpace Worm

According to News.com, MySpace.com is demanding that Apple change its Quicktime player software to address an issue that occurred recently when the popular social networking website was attacked by a phishing/worm attack that used embedded Quicktime movies to propagate.

The worm exploits a common type of Web vulnerability called a cross-site scripting flaw in the site along with a feature called HREF track in QuickTime that has legitimate uses but can also be abused, experts said.

Nevertheless, Apple is obliging.

Apple is working on a QuickTime fix, but has a temporary solution available Tuesday, company spokeswoman Lynn Fox said in an e-mail.

"Recently we learned about an issue that exploits a feature in QuickTime used to target MySpace users. We have devised a way to disable this QuickTime feature for those who use Internet Explorer. We are working on a broader solution for all other users as well," Fox said in the e-mail.

Apple said it has provided MySpace with the temporary fix. The computer company said it would be up to the social-networking site to offer it to users. MySpace has not responded to an inquiry from CNET News.com as to when the temporary solution would be available to users.

It remains unclear how the temporary solution will be distributed. Also, while MySpace had temporarily blocked the web links in question while waiting for Apple's response, MacRumors is unaware of any attempts by the company to address the root cross-scripting vulnerability that may still be potentially be exploited via other yet-unknown means.