hoakley July 10, 2023 Macs, Technology, Updates

Apple has just released another Rapid Security Response for Ventura, and Safari for 11 and 12

Apple has just released a second Rapid Security Response (RSR) for macOS Ventura. To install this, your Mac must already be running macOS 13.4.1. Although it’s a small download, less than 200 MB, the software update servers seem heavily loaded at present. This requires a restart to complete installation, but little additional time to a normal restart.

Following successful installation, the macOS version number is given as 13.4.1 (a), with a build number of 22F770820b. Safari is brought up to version 16.5.2 (a) with a build number of 18615.2.9.11.9.

This RSR patches a single vulnerability in WebKit, which Apple reports is believed to have been exploited in the wild. Details are here.

Please do not try to download or install this RSR using SilentKnight, or the command tool softwareupdate. RSRs should always be downloaded and installed using Software Update.

For those still running Monterey or Big Sur, Apple has incorporated this security fix in a new version (16.5.2) of Safari, which should be available now.

Note

Apple appears to have pulled this RSR temporarily, and probably the new versions of Safari. This is thought to be due to problems with some online services including Facebook. I suspect that the RSR and new versions of Safari will reappear shortly.

Updated with latest news on withdrawal, 0900 GMT 11 July 2023.

26Comments

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1

Brian Newman on July 10, 2023 at 7:36 pm

‘For those still running Monterey or Big Sur, Apple has incorporated this security fix in a new version (16.5.2) of Safari, available now.’

I’m running Monterey 12.6.7 along with Safari 16.5.1 yet when I check Software Update I’m informed that my system is up to date. Where is Safari version 16.5.2 available for download for those running Monterey & Big Sur?

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- 2
  
  hoakley on July 10, 2023 at 7:38 pm
  
  I think you should find it a little later.
  Howard
  
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- 3
  
  Brian Newman on July 10, 2023 at 8:58 pm
  
  I was able to download Safari update for Monterey at 4:54pm E.T.
  
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  - 4
    
    hoakley on July 10, 2023 at 8:58 pm
    
    Thank you.
    Howard
    
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5

ClickClack on July 10, 2023 at 7:41 pm

Hi, Howard. Thanks for this news. I am still running macOS Monterey (12.6.7) and tried looking for the Safari 16.5.2 update, but cannot find it. Here in the USA at 12:30 P.M. (Pacific Standard Time), it is not listed when I check the App Store, Software Update, SilentKnight (just looking, not intending to try updating via that app), or in a general Internet search. Perhaps Apple withdrew it temporarily to tweak its code bit? Just a guess. I was able to update my iPadOS and iOS on my iPhone without any issues.

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- 6
  
  hoakley on July 10, 2023 at 7:42 pm
  
  I believe that it should be coming shortly.
  Howard
  
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7

Alan on July 10, 2023 at 7:55 pm

> Please do not try to download or install this RSR using SilentKnight, or the command tool softwareupdate. RSRs should always be downloaded and installed using Software Update.

Could you expand on that please? Will softwareupdate fail to install the RSR or fail to find it?

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- 8
  
  hoakley on July 10, 2023 at 7:57 pm
  
  softwareupdate will find the RSR, but may not be able to install it.
  Howard
  
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9

Moses Kravitz on July 10, 2023 at 11:24 pm

(From Tidbits)

Thanks to Will Mayall for pointing out that Facebook’s Web browser detection code doesn’t recognize the new Safari 16.5.2 (a), forcing you to use the mobile version of the site.
Facebook will likely update soon, and Apple will probably release a Safari update for older versions of macOS shortly.

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- 10
  
  hoakley on July 11, 2023 at 6:12 am
  
  Thank you.
  It appears that the RSR and maybe the Safari updates have been pulled for the moment as a result.
  Howard.
  
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11

Joe Hanna on July 11, 2023 at 3:19 am

What a nightmare!! I have to struggle with Facebook enough to get the desktop site to load on my iPad Pro, and now you’re telling me they’re bringing that frustration to the big screen!?

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- 12
  
  Joe Hanna on July 11, 2023 at 3:21 am
  
  That was supposed to go as a reply to Moses Kravitz, but I clicked on the wrong button.
  
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13

Maurizio on July 11, 2023 at 8:26 am

strangerly this update fix an issue on smart search bar. Since ventura 13.4 when i search on the smart bar the result are coerent only if the inserted word march the first letter of the url searched and it did not take care of the frequency of the clicked results. so the suggested best result was no more the true best results. Now it work again , if you search a term in the middle of the url or the name of the site , after a few click it is considered again the best results bssed on your behaviour

PS: i will wait for the next article on Time Machine to post a silly question about excluding paths 🙂

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- 14
  
  hoakley on July 11, 2023 at 8:44 am
  
  Thank you. Feel free to ask here, although I do have a Time Machine article coming later this week.
  Howard.
  
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  - 15
    
    Maurizio on July 11, 2023 at 8:51 am
    
    I excluded the path /System/Library/AssetsV2 , at moment is about 2 Gigs , strangerly most of the system/library is excluded from TM but not this path. All the contents dont behave to the user and is fully recoverable from installation or online at first setup, i dont understand the need to backup it
    
    thanks for the kindness of let me ask here
    
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    - 16
      
      hoakley on July 11, 2023 at 12:45 pm
      
      That folder is firmlinked from the System to the Data volume, so its contents are writeable and not on the SSV, although the whole folder is protected by SIP. It doesn’t appear in any of the standard exclusion lists, which is perhaps a little surprising. Otherwise, the whole of the System volume is excluded as standard.
      I think the answer is that folder does contain files that wouldn’t be restored as part of macOS, so if you do want them available in your backup, you shouldn’t add it to your exclusion list. As we don’t understand what all those files do, I can’t advise you whether losing it from a restore would make any significant difference.
      Howard.
      
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    - 17
      
      Krzysztof on July 12, 2023 at 3:21 am
      
      This folder contains (among others) the system-wide dictionaries used by Dictionary.app, so you will lose them during the restore.
      
      Some time ago on my Mac the three-finger salute stopped showing translations of selected words. As far as I remember the solution was to disable SIP, delete contents of /System/Library/AssetsV2/com_apple_MobileAsset_DictionaryServices_dictionaryOSX and re-download everything.
      
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    - 18
      
      hoakley on July 12, 2023 at 7:21 am
      
      Thank you.
      I think that most if not all the items in that folder can be regenerated, so not having it in your backup shouldn’t lose you any data.
      Howard.
      
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19

Andrew Jaffe on July 11, 2023 at 8:50 am

Has the update been pulled? I updated my MBP last night, but this morning it’s not showing up as available on my M1 Mac Studio?

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- 20
  
  hoakley on July 11, 2023 at 8:55 am
  
  Yes, I think it has, although I’m not aware that Apple has even mentioned that. I also suspect that it will reappear shortly, again without any announcement.
  Howard.
  
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  - 21
    
    artiste212 on July 11, 2023 at 3:41 pm
    
    Howard, Apple has updated the link you provided above (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT213825) to indicate that the RSR has issues and may be removed. They also say that an updated RSR macOS 13.4.1 (b) will be released “soon.”
    
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    - 22
      
      hoakley on July 11, 2023 at 3:43 pm
      
      Thank you. I too am waiting for soon.
      Howard
      
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23

Myob on July 12, 2023 at 3:36 pm

From Mr. Macintosh:
“[…]Safari 16.5.1 is included in the Ventura 13.4.1 update and is available as a standalone update for macOS Monterey and Big Sur.

UPDATE! Apple deprecated the old Safari 16.5.1 update and uploaded a new version for both Monterey & Big Sur.[…]”
https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-ventura-13-4-1-update-22f82-whats-new/

Includes a screenshot which shows deprecated and active Safari instances.

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- 24
  
  hoakley on July 12, 2023 at 3:38 pm
  
  Thank you. We await developments on the RSR front.
  Howard
  
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25

Andrew Jaffe on July 12, 2023 at 8:40 pm

… and it appears to be back — as 13.4.1 (c) [not (b)!] as of Wednesday evening….

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- 26
  
  hoakley on July 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
  
  Thank you
  Howard
  
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