CVE-2008-1009 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in WebCore, as used in Apple Safari before 3.1, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript by modifying the history object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1009 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Apple Safari's WebCore rendering engine prior to version 3.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the browser's handling of the history object, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw exists in the manner in which Safari processes and sanitizes user input when manipulating the browser's history object, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist across navigation events.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within Safari's WebCore component. When users interact with web pages that contain maliciously crafted history manipulation code, the browser fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as executable JavaScript. This occurs particularly when attackers modify the history object through javascript methods such as pushState or replaceState, which are designed to manipulate the browser's history stack without requiring page reloads. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as a classic cross-site scripting flaw, where the application fails to validate or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can craft web pages that modify the browser's history object in ways that trigger the execution of malicious JavaScript when users navigate to specific URLs or perform certain browser actions. This creates a persistent threat vector where the injected scripts can execute whenever the modified history state is accessed, potentially compromising user sessions and stealing sensitive information. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1531 for credential access through browser-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Safari versions to 3.1 or later, where Apple implemented proper input sanitization and history object validation. Organizations should also implement comprehensive web application firewalls and content security policies to prevent malicious history manipulation attempts. Browser security configurations should be hardened through the implementation of strict content security policies that prevent unauthorized script execution and limit the ability of web pages to manipulate browser history objects. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browser software updated remains crucial in defending against such attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web browser components and highlights how seemingly innocuous browser features can become attack vectors when not properly secured against malicious input manipulation.