CVE-2007-3376 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Apple Safari 3.0.2 on Windows XP SP2 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long value in the title HTML tag, which triggers the overflow when the user adds the page as a bookmark.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3376 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple Safari 3.0.2 running on Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 systems. This security weakness specifically manifests when processing HTML content containing an excessively long value within the title tag element. The flaw operates through a user-assisted attack vector where a remote attacker can craft malicious web content that triggers the buffer overflow condition when users attempt to bookmark the affected webpage. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is a fundamental memory corruption issue that has been a persistent threat in software development for decades. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables remote code execution through browser-based attacks targeting client systems.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when Safari processes HTML content containing an abnormally long string within the title tag attribute. When users attempt to add such pages to their bookmarks, the browser fails to properly validate the length of the title value, leading to memory corruption in the application's stack-based buffer. This condition creates a scenario where the application's memory management becomes compromised, allowing attackers to potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only user interaction to trigger, making it a prime candidate for social engineering attacks where victims are tricked into bookmarking malicious web pages. The buffer overflow can manifest as either a crash of the Safari browser process or potentially enable arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory corruption patterns and exploitation techniques employed by the attacker.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3376 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure risks. When successful, the buffer overflow can cause Safari to crash and terminate unexpectedly, disrupting user productivity and potentially leading to loss of unsaved work. However, the more severe implications arise when attackers successfully exploit the memory corruption to execute malicious code within the browser's context, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user systems. The vulnerability affects Windows XP SP2 systems specifically, which were widely deployed in enterprise environments during that time period, making the attack surface particularly large. Organizations running Safari 3.0.2 on Windows XP systems faced significant risk exposure, as the combination of an outdated operating system with vulnerable browser software created multiple attack vectors for adversaries. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in web browser development, as the flaw originates from inadequate bounds checking within the HTML parsing component of the browser.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3376 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Apple Safari that addresses the buffer overflow vulnerability through proper input validation and memory management improvements. System administrators should implement browser security policies that disable bookmarking of untrusted web content and establish regular patch management procedures to ensure all software components remain current. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block malicious content containing overly long title attributes before they reach end-user systems. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of bookmarking content from untrusted sources and the importance of keeping software updated. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies including regular security assessments, vulnerability scanning, and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence to identify similar buffer overflow patterns in other browser components or applications. Organizations should consider implementing browser isolation techniques and sandboxing mechanisms to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities on system security and user data protection.