CVE-2010-0544 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in WebKit in Apple Safari before 5.0 on Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows, and before 4.1 on Mac OS X 10.4, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to a malformed URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2021
The CVE-2010-0544 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple Safari browsers across multiple operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects Safari versions prior to 5.0 on Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows platforms, as well as versions before 4.1 on Mac OS X 10.4. The flaw resides in how the browser handles malformed URL inputs, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browsing session. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications and browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parsing mechanisms within WebKit's rendering engine. When Safari encounters a malformed URL, the browser's handling of these inputs fails to properly sanitize or escape the content, allowing attackers to inject malicious script code that gets executed when users navigate to or interact with the compromised URLs. This particular vector demonstrates the browser's insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms, which are fundamental security controls in preventing XSS attacks. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates at the browser engine level rather than within web applications, making it more difficult to detect and mitigate through traditional web application security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0544 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, execute scripts that steal cookies, modify page content, or redirect users to phishing sites. This vulnerability particularly affects users of older Safari versions who may not have received automatic updates, creating a significant risk surface across enterprise networks where legacy systems persist. The attack vector's reliance on malformed URL handling makes it particularly insidious as users may encounter these malicious URLs through legitimate web browsing activities, social engineering, or compromised web services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Safari versions to the latest releases that contain the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive browser update policies and ensure that all users maintain current versions of Safari across supported platforms. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious URL patterns, deploying content security policies to limit script execution, and educating users about the risks of clicking untrusted links. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through malicious web content, emphasizing the need for both technical and user awareness-based defenses. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based security controls that can monitor for suspicious URL patterns and malformed inputs that may indicate exploitation attempts.