CVE-2010-1176 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Safari on Apple iPhone OS 3.1.3 for iPod touch allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors related to an array of long strings, an array of IMG elements with crafted strings in their SRC attributes, a TBODY element with no associated TABLE element, and certain calls to the delete operator and the cloneNode, clearAttributes, and CollectGarbage methods, possibly a related issue to CVE-2009-0075.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-1176 represents a critical security flaw affecting Safari web browser on Apple iPhone OS 3.1.3 for iPod touch devices. This issue demonstrates how seemingly benign web content can be exploited to create serious security implications including both denial of service conditions and potential arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of various HTML elements and JavaScript operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically exposing weaknesses in memory management and input validation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation vectors identified in this vulnerability encompass multiple attack surfaces that collectively demonstrate a sophisticated exploitation pattern. Attackers can trigger the vulnerability through arrays containing long strings, which likely cause buffer overflows or memory corruption when processed by Safari's JavaScript engine. Additionally, crafted IMG elements with specially constructed SRC attributes can manipulate the browser's image loading and processing routines. The vulnerability also exploits TBODY elements without associated TABLE elements, indicating improper handling of malformed HTML structures that can lead to memory corruption during DOM traversal. Furthermore, the vulnerability leverages improper usage of delete operator and methods such as cloneNode, clearAttributes, and CollectGarbage, which suggests memory management flaws in the JavaScript engine's garbage collection and object manipulation routines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable remote code execution on affected devices. When exploited successfully, attackers can cause Safari to crash repeatedly, rendering the device unusable for web browsing until a restart occurs. More concerning is the potential for arbitrary code execution, which would allow attackers to install malicious software, steal user data, or compromise the entire device. The vulnerability affects a specific version of iPhone OS, indicating that this was likely a targeted issue that was addressed in subsequent updates, highlighting the importance of timely security patching in mobile environments.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several CWE classifications including CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds writes. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-20, which covers input validation issues, and CWE-119, which addresses memory corruption vulnerabilities. The attack patterns described here correspond to techniques found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for JavaScript execution, and potentially T1499.004 for denial of service attacks. The combination of multiple exploitation vectors suggests this vulnerability may have been part of a broader class of memory corruption issues affecting the WebKit rendering engine used by Safari.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official security patches released by Apple to update iPhone OS to a version that addresses these memory management and input validation issues. Users should also implement browser security best practices including avoiding untrusted web content and maintaining up-to-date device firmware. Network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions to block potentially malicious content and monitor for exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in their mobile device management systems and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place to address such vulnerabilities promptly.
This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the complex security challenges inherent in mobile browser environments where rich web content must be processed safely while maintaining performance and user experience. The exploitation of memory management functions and HTML parsing routines demonstrates how vulnerabilities in core browser components can have cascading effects throughout the entire operating system. The relationship to CVE-2009-0075 indicates this may have been part of an ongoing series of similar vulnerabilities in the Safari browser's JavaScript engine, emphasizing the need for continuous security auditing of web rendering components in mobile operating systems.