CVE-2010-0040 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in ColorSync in Apple Safari before 4.0.5 on Windows, and iTunes before 9.1, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via an image with a crafted color profile that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0040 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Apple's ColorSync framework that affected multiple Apple products including Safari web browser and iTunes media player. This vulnerability specifically impacts Windows systems running affected versions of these applications, creating a dangerous condition that could be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized system control or disrupt service availability.
The technical flaw manifests as an integer overflow condition within the ColorSync color profile processing functionality, which occurs when handling image files containing maliciously crafted color profiles. When these specially constructed profiles are processed by the affected applications, the integer overflow triggers a heap-based buffer overflow condition that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on the target system. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is classified as a common weakness in software security practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass full system compromise potential. Attackers can craft malicious image files with deceptive color profiles that appear legitimate but contain oversized or malformed data structures designed to trigger the integer overflow condition. When these images are processed by Safari or iTunes, the resulting buffer overflow can corrupt memory structures and potentially allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe given that it affects widely used applications with extensive user bases. Safari's integration with web content processing and iTunes' handling of media files creates numerous attack vectors where users might encounter maliciously crafted images without realizing the security risk. The vulnerability requires no special privileges to exploit and can be delivered through standard web browsing or media consumption activities, making it particularly dangerous for end users who may unknowingly trigger the exploit.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application to the affected software versions, as well as implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block malicious color profile data. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing measures for applications handling image processing and establishing monitoring protocols to detect unusual memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in security-critical code, particularly in multimedia processing libraries that handle untrusted user data.