Attack code that exploits a flaw in Apple Computer"s Mac OS X was publicly released Wednesday, increasing the urgency to patch.
The code"s arrival comes just a day after Apple made an update available for its operating system. The malicious program takes advantage of a locally exploitable vulnerability in an operating system component called "launchd".
"Attackers may exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges," Symantec said in a security alert to customers that was updated on Thursday.
Kevin Finisterre, a security researcher at Digital Munition, created the exploit. Earlier this year, Finisterre created the Inqtana worm, which targets Mac OS X and spreads using an 8-month-old vulnerability in Apple"s Bluetooth software. His actions are in part to demonstrate that Apple software is notunbreakable, he has said.