CVE-2007-3482 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-domain vulnerability in Apple Safari for Windows 3.0.1 allows remote attackers to bypass the "same origin policy" and access restricted information from other domains via JavaScript that overwrites the document variable and statically sets the document.domain attribute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2017
The cross-domain vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3482 represents a critical security flaw in Apple Safari for Windows version 3.0.1 that fundamentally undermines the browser's core security model. This vulnerability exploits the same origin policy mechanism that serves as the primary defense against cross-site scripting attacks and unauthorized data access between different web domains. The same origin policy is a fundamental security principle that prevents scripts from one origin from accessing resources or data from another origin, thereby protecting users from malicious cross-domain attacks. The flaw specifically affects the implementation of the document.domain attribute handling within Safari's JavaScript engine, creating a pathway for attackers to circumvent these essential security boundaries.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves JavaScript code that manipulates the document variable and explicitly sets the document.domain attribute to a value that allows access to restricted cross-domain resources. This manipulation effectively bypasses the browser's security restrictions by altering the domain context in which scripts operate, enabling attackers to access objects and data that should normally be restricted to the originating domain. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper input validation and security boundary enforcement within the browser's JavaScript implementation. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in the security model where the application fails to properly enforce domain isolation mechanisms, specifically categorized under CWE-284 for improper access control and CWE-20 for improper input validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform sophisticated cross-domain attacks that could lead to session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to access cookies, local storage, and other sensitive data from different domains, potentially compromising user sessions and accessing confidential information. The attack vector requires the user to visit a malicious website that contains the exploit code, making it a client-side attack that relies on social engineering to deliver the payload. This vulnerability significantly undermines the browser's security model and could enable attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, credential theft, and other malicious activities that would otherwise be prevented by proper cross-domain security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on immediate patching and implementation of additional security controls. The most effective solution involves updating Safari to version 3.0.2 or later, which includes fixes that properly enforce the same origin policy and prevent manipulation of the document.domain attribute. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as content security policy headers, strict browser security settings, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures including network monitoring, web application firewalls, and user education. Browser vendors should implement more robust validation mechanisms for document.domain manipulation and ensure proper enforcement of security boundaries to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.