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Apple Prepares Fix for Safari Bug Allowing Websites to Decipher Your Recent Browsing Activity

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Over the weekend, we reported on a bug in WebKit's implementation of a JavaScript API called IndexedDB that can reveal your recent browsing history and even your identity, according to browser fingerprinting service FingerprintJS.

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Apple has since prepared a fix for the bug, according to a WebKit commit on GitHub, but the fix will not be available to users until Apple releases macOS Monterey, iOS 15, and iPadOS 15 updates with an updated version of Safari. Apple declined to comment when asked to provide a timeframe for a fix being released to the public.

The bug allows any website that uses IndexedDB for client-side data storage to access the names of IndexedDB databases generated by other websites during a user's browsing session. The bug could allow one website to track other websites the user visits in different tabs or windows, as the database names are often specific to each website, and sometimes the database names contain user-specific identifiers that could reveal a user's identity.

FingerprintJS has a live demo of the bug, which affects newer versions of browsers using Apple's open source browser engine WebKit, including Safari 15 for macOS and Safari on all versions of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. The bug also affects third-party browsers like Chrome and Edge on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, as Apple requires all iPhone and iPad browsers to use WebKit.

The bug does not affect Safari 14 for macOS or any browser on iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, according to FingerprintJS, which has a blog post with more details.

Tag: Safari

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Top Rated Comments

ouimetnick Avatar
ouimetnick
56 months ago

but the fix will not be available to users until Apple releases macOS Monterey, iOS 15, and iPadOS 15 updates with an updated version of Safari.
Why can't we have Safari separated from the OS? I didn't have to update macOS for iTunes updates. Never had to update iOS for updates to Pages, Numbers, Keynote, etc.

They do update Safari separate from macOS on older versions of macOS.. Why can't the same be done with the latest/current release of macOS (and iOS/iPadOS)?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️ Avatar
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️
56 months ago

What do you mean Apple is preparing for a fix?

Apple just issued a fix for macOS and users can get it right here ('https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/') :p
I’m a big fan of Mozilla, Firefox browser. Been using it for years. Possibly a decade. It's too bad I'm addicted to Safari. But Firefox is my 2nd go-to.

Good suggestion though. 👌☝️
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
diamondsw
56 months ago

Why can't we have Safari separated from the OS? I didn't have to update macOS for iTunes updates. Never had to update iOS for updates to Pages, Numbers, Keynote, etc.

They do update Safari separate from macOS on older versions of macOS.. Why can't the same be done with the latest/current release of macOS (and iOS/iPadOS)?
Because Safari is the new IE. I only somewhat kid... Remember when we all blasted Microsoft for this exact behavior in Win98? :(
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
sw1tcher
56 months ago
What do you mean Apple is preparing for a fix?

Apple just issued a fix for macOS and users can get it right here ('https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/') :p
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
K
KaliYoni
56 months ago

The bug does not affect Safari 14 for macOS or any browser on iOS 14 and iPadOS 14
Yet again, upgrading right when a new macOS or iOS is released causes major problems for users! If I could get Tim Cook to do one thing, it would be to stop the forced annual releases of OS's. It's not like Apple would take a sales revenue hit from stretching out releases to 18 or 24 months...
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
ian87w
56 months ago

Using Firefox while Safari is being repaired is a great idea 👍
Not when you are on iOS. Every browsers on iOS use the same Safari/Webkit engine, and are affected by this bug.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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