CVE-2010-0054 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 involving HTML IMG elements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0054 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple Safari browser versions prior to 4.0.5. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating a scenario where malicious actors can manipulate memory contents to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. The specific vector involves HTML IMG elements which, when processed by the vulnerable browser, trigger the problematic memory management behavior. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is classified as a serious memory safety issue that has been consistently flagged as a primary attack surface for remote code execution exploits. The WebKit engine's handling of image elements creates a pathway where attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when rendered, cause the browser to free memory associated with IMG element processing and subsequently attempt to access that freed memory space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass full remote code execution capabilities, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments and individual users alike. When a user visits a malicious website containing specially crafted IMG elements, the browser's memory management routines fail to properly handle the lifecycle of allocated resources, allowing attackers to overwrite memory contents with malicious payloads. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution that may be used to establish persistent access or escalate privileges. This particular flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign HTML elements can become attack vectors when combined with memory management errors in browser engines, highlighting the complexity of modern web security threats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0054 primarily focus on immediate patching and browser updates, as Apple released Safari 4.0.5 to address this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all Safari installations are updated to version 4.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. Network security controls including web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional layers of protection by blocking access to known malicious domains that may host exploit code. Browser hardening measures such as disabling automatic image loading, implementing sandboxing features, and restricting JavaScript execution in untrusted contexts can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify outdated browser versions within organizational networks, as this type of memory corruption vulnerability typically requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it particularly effective for mass exploitation campaigns. Security teams should monitor threat intelligence feeds for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implement incident response procedures to handle potential exploitation attempts.