CVE-2007-2580 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Apple Safari allows local users to obtain sensitive information (saved keychain passwords) via the document.loginform.password.value JavaScript parameter loaded from an AppleScript script.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2580 represents a significant security flaw in Apple Safari web browser that was discovered in 2007. This issue specifically affects the handling of web form data within the browser's JavaScript execution environment and demonstrates how seemingly benign scripting capabilities can be exploited to access sensitive user information. The vulnerability occurs when Safari processes JavaScript code that interacts with web forms, particularly those involving login credentials, and allows for unauthorized access to saved keychain passwords through a specific parameter manipulation technique.
The technical flaw manifests through the document.loginform.password.value JavaScript parameter which is designed to handle password input fields within web forms. When an AppleScript script loads content into this parameter, the browser fails to properly validate or sanitize the input, creating an information disclosure channel. This vulnerability falls under the category of information exposure and can be categorized as CWE-200, which deals with information exposure through output with sensitive data. The flaw essentially allows local users to bypass normal security boundaries that should prevent JavaScript from accessing stored passwords in the system's keychain management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables attackers to extract saved passwords without requiring authentication or network access. An attacker could craft malicious AppleScript content that, when executed by a victim's Safari browser, would retrieve and potentially exfiltrate stored passwords from the keychain. This represents a privilege escalation issue where local access can lead to unauthorized credential access, potentially compromising user accounts across multiple services that rely on saved passwords. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate browser functionality to access sensitive data that should remain protected by the operating system's security model.
This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1555.003 which covers credentials from password stores and T1059.007 which involves AppleScript execution. The attack vector demonstrates how scripting languages can be weaponized to bypass security controls, particularly when browser applications fail to properly isolate sensitive data access. Users who had saved passwords in Safari's keychain were at risk of credential theft, potentially leading to account compromise across various online services. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and the need for web browsers to maintain strict boundaries between different security domains.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability included updating to newer versions of Safari that properly handled the JavaScript parameter access and implementing proper access controls for keychain data. System administrators should have ensured that users were running patched versions of the browser and that AppleScript execution was properly restricted. The vulnerability underscored the need for comprehensive security testing of browser scripting capabilities and proper sandboxing of sensitive data access operations. Organizations should have implemented monitoring for unusual AppleScript activity and ensured that users understood the risks of executing untrusted scripts. Additionally, this vulnerability reinforced the importance of keeping all system components updated and following security best practices for managing stored credentials.