Pale Moon Version 28.6.1 Released with Security Updates

Pale Moon has been updated to version 28.6.1.  This is a security and bugfix update.

From the Release Notes:

Changes/fixes:

• Improved handling of FTP resource loading (allow save-as and cater to some FTP-based browsing).
• Added a preference (security.block_ftp_subresources) to allow users to completely bypass the blocking of FTP subresources if required for their environment, if the improvements made in this release do not suffice.
• Added blocking of authentication-locked cross-origin image subresources by default to prevent spurious auth prompts.
  A preference (network.auth.subresource-http-img-XO-auth) was added to allow users to bypass this blocking if required for their environment.
• Changed the behavior of file: URIs to treat each URI as a unique origin. This prevents cross-file access from scripting.
  A preference (security.fileuri.unique_origin) was added to allow users to relax this restriction if required for their environment.
• Implemented a revised version of http2PushedStream to address some thread safety issues.
• Aligned browser behavior with mainstream regarding inner window behavior when domain is manipulated.
• Backed out a 28.5.* patch for causing multiple issues in the UI and web content.
• Updated NSS to 3.41.2 (custom) to pick up several upstream fixes.
  
• Fixed a type confusion issue in JavaScript Arrays. (DiD)
• Added a fix for cross-thread access of Necko. (DiD)
• Added a port safety check for Alternative Services.
• Implemented fixes for applicable security issues: CVE-2019-11719, CVE-2019-11711, CVE-2019-11715, CVE-2019-11717, CVE-2019-11714 (DiD), CVE-2019-11729 (DiD), CVE-2019-11727 (DiD), CVE-2019-11730 (DiD), CVE-2019-11713 (DiD) and several networking and memory-safety hazards that do not have CVE numbers.
  

DiD This means that the fix is "Defense-in-Depth": It is a fix that does not apply to a (potentially) actively exploitable vulnerability in Pale Moon, but prevents future vulnerabilities caused by the same code, e.g. when surrounding code changes, exposing the problem, or when new attack vectors are discovered.

Update:  To get the update now, select "Help" from the Pale Moon menu at the upper left of the browser window.  Click About Pale Moon and  Check for Updates.

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Firefox Version 68.0.1 Released

Mozilla sent Firefox Version 68.0.1 to the release channel today. As of the last check, no update is available for ESR.

New

• macOS releases are now signed by the Apple notary service, allowing Firefox to properly run on macOS 10.15 Beta releases

Fixed

• Fixed missing Full Screen button when watching videos in full screen mode on HBO GO (bug 1562837)
  
• Fixed a bug causing incorrect messages to appear for some locales when sites try to request the use of the Storage Access API (bug 1558503)
  
• Users in Russian regions may have their default search engine changed (bug 1565315)
  
• Built-in search engines in some locales do not function correctly (bug 1565779)
  

Update:  To get the update now, select "Help" from the Firefox menu, then pick "About Firefox."  Mac users need to select "About Firefox" from the Firefox menu. If you do not use the English language version, Fully Localized Versions are available for download.

References

• Common questions after updating Firefox
• Security Updates
• Release Notes
• Rapid Release Calendar

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Oracle Java SE Critical Security Update Released

Oracle released the scheduled critical security updates for its Java SE Runtime Environment software.  This Critical Patch Update contains 10 new security fixes for Oracle Java SE.  Nine (9) of these vulnerabilities may be remotely exploitable without authentication, i.e., may be exploited over a network without requiring user credentials.  The English text form of this Risk Matrix can be found here. The update also includes numerous Bug Fixes.

Update

If Java is still installed on your computer, it is recommended that this update be applied as soon as possible due to the threat posed by a successful attack.

Download Information

Java SE 8u221

• Release Notes: https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/8u221-relnotes-5480116.html
• Download:  https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp 

Java SE 12.0.2 Development Kit (64-bit only)

• Release Notes: https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/12-0-2-relnotes-5480112.html
• Download:  https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk12-downloads-5295953.html 

Notes:

• UNcheck any pre-checked toolbar and/or software options presented with the update. They are not part of the software update and are completely optional.  Preferably, see the instructions below on how to handle "Unwanted Extras".  
• Oracle does not plan to migrate desktops from Java 8 to Java 9 through the auto update feature.  Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you uninstall JRE 8 prior to updating.
• Verify your version:  http://www.java.com/en/download/testjava.jsp.   Note:  The Java version verification page will only work if your browser has NPAPI support.  In that case, to check the version, open a cmd window and enter the following (note the space following Java):  java -version

Critical Patch Updates

For Oracle Java SE Critical Patch Updates, the next scheduled dates are as follows:

• 15 October 2019
• 14 January 2020
• 14 April 2020
• 14 July 2020

Unwanted "Extras"

Although most people do not need Java on their computer, there are some programs and games that require Java.  In the event you need to continue using Java, How-to Geek discovered a little-known and  unpublicized option in the Java Control Panel to suppress the offers for the pre-checked unwanted extras that Oracle has long included with the updates.  Although the Ask Toolbar has been removed, tha does not preclude the pre-checked option for some other unnecessary add-on.

Do the following to suppress the sponsor offers:

1. Launch the Windows Start menu
2. Click on Programs
3. Find the Java program listing
4. Click Configure Java to launch the Java Control Panel
5. Click the Advanced tab and go to the "Miscellaneous" section at the bottom.
6. Check the box by the “Suppress sponsor offers when installing or updating Java” option and click OK.

Java Security Recommendations

1)  In the Java Control Panel, at minimum, set the security to high.
2)  Keep Java disabled until needed.  Uncheck the box "Enable Java content in the browser" in the Java Control Panel.

3)  Instructions on removing older (and less secure) versions of Java can be found at http://java.com/en/download/faq/remove_olderversions.xml

References

• Java, The Never-Ending Saga  
• Critical Patch Updates and Security Alerts
• Oracle Java SE Risk Matrix 
• Oracle Quality Assurance Blog 

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...