CVE-2010-0052 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in WebKit in Apple Safari before 4.0.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via vectors related to "callbacks for HTML elements."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
The CVE-2010-0052 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Apple Safari's WebKit rendering engine that existed prior to version 4.0.5. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of callbacks associated with HTML elements, creating a dangerous condition where memory previously allocated to objects becomes accessible after it has been freed, potentially allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or induce application crashes. The flaw resides in how WebKit processes certain HTML element callbacks, particularly when dealing with dynamic content manipulation that triggers memory management operations.
This vulnerability operates through a classic use-after-free exploitation pattern where an attacker crafts malicious web content that manipulates HTML elements in such a way that triggers premature memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to the freed memory location. The attack vector involves delivering specially crafted web pages that leverage JavaScript or other web technologies to manipulate DOM elements and their associated callback handlers, ultimately causing the browser to access memory that has already been released by the garbage collector or memory management system. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern web browsers where numerous callback mechanisms interact with dynamic memory allocation and deallocation processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0052 extends beyond simple application instability to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a severe threat to end-user security. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Safari process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The denial of service aspect can be leveraged by attackers to repeatedly crash the browser application, disrupting user productivity and potentially serving as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects users running older versions of Safari, as Apple had not yet patched the issue in versions prior to 4.0.5, leaving a significant user base exposed to potential exploitation.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching and updating to Safari 4.0.5 or later versions where Apple had implemented fixes for the memory management issues. System administrators should ensure all user devices are updated to the latest Safari versions and consider implementing additional browser security measures such as sandboxing and privilege separation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and falls under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based attacks, highlighting the intersection of memory corruption vulnerabilities with modern exploitation techniques. Organizations should also implement web content filtering and user education to reduce exposure to malicious web content that might exploit this and similar vulnerabilities in browser rendering engines.