14 DAY TRIAL // Apple was quite in a rush to release an emergency patch for the macOS vulnerability that allowed anyone to get root access to its computers, and while the flaw is fixed, it turns out that the update itself is causing some extra problems on systems that install it.
Apple has confirmed that the Security Update 2017-001 for macOS High Sierra 10.13.1 breaks down file sharing, also providing a bunch of instructions on how to fix this until another patch is shipped.
“If file sharing doesn’t work after you install Security Update 2017-001, follow these steps. If you experience issues with authenticating or connecting to file shares on your Mac after you install Security Update 2017-001 for macOS High Sierra 10.13.1, follow these steps to repair file sharing,” Apple says before revealing the steps below (and which you should use in case you came across this file sharing bug):
1. Open the Terminal app, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
2. Type sudo /usr/libexec/configureLocalKDC and press Return.
3. Enter your administrator password and press Return.
4. Quit the Terminal app.
Apple apologizes for the bug
While the file sharing is mostly the result of Apple working against the clock to release the security update, and proper in-house testing before the public launch wasn’t possible, it’s certainly the lesser of two evils. The original vulnerability would have allowed anyone to access a macOS system without a root password and with the guest account enabled, whilst the current bug only blocks file sharing unless the workaround is used.
Apple, however, promises to do better in the future and explains that it started working on an update immediately after engineers became aware of the issue.
“We greatly regret this error and we apologize to all Mac users, both for releasing with this vulnerability and for the concern it has caused. Our customers deserve better. We are auditing our development processes to help prevent this from happening again,” the firm said.