CVE-2009-1693 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit in Apple Safari before 4.0, iPhone OS 1.0 through 2.2.1, and iPhone OS for iPod touch 1.1 through 2.2.1 allows remote attackers to read images from arbitrary web sites via a CANVAS element with an SVG image, related to a "cross-site image capture issue."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-1693 represents a significant cross-site scripting and information disclosure flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that was prevalent in Safari browsers and iPhone OS versions up to 2.2.1. This issue stems from a fundamental security weakness in how WebKit handled canvas elements when processing Scalable Vector Graphics images, creating an unexpected pathway for malicious actors to bypass standard security restrictions. The vulnerability specifically affects the rendering and security model of WebKit, which is the core component responsible for displaying web content in Apple's mobile and desktop browsers.
The technical flaw manifests when a malicious web page constructs a CANVAS element that references an SVG image from an arbitrary website, enabling unauthorized access to image data that should normally be restricted due to cross-origin security policies. This cross-site image capture issue occurs because the WebKit engine fails to properly enforce same-origin policies when processing canvas operations involving external SVG content. The vulnerability allows attackers to extract image data from different domains without proper authorization, effectively bypassing the browser's security boundaries that are designed to prevent such cross-site information leakage. This flaw operates at the intersection of HTML5 canvas capabilities and SVG rendering, creating a specific attack vector that exploits the interaction between these technologies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables remote attackers to perform unauthorized data exfiltration from websites that users may visit while browsing. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that, when loaded in vulnerable browsers, can capture and transmit image content from other domains, potentially including sensitive corporate assets, user-generated content, or other protected resources. This capability extends beyond simple image theft to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, session hijacking, or data correlation attacks that could compromise user privacy and security. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Apple products including desktop Safari browsers and mobile iPhone and iPod touch operating systems, making it particularly dangerous due to its widespread deployment.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and represents a classic example of cross-site scripting attacks that bypass origin policies. The issue demonstrates how modern web technologies can introduce unexpected security gaps when not properly implemented with security considerations in mind. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Safari and iPhone OS, implementing network-level restrictions, and monitoring for suspicious web content that might exploit this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1566 (Phishing) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create more convincing phishing attacks by stealing visual elements from legitimate sites. Additionally, browser vendors should consider implementing stricter canvas security policies and enhanced SVG processing validation to prevent similar issues in future implementations.