CVE-2010-1373 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Help Viewer in Apple Mac OS X 10.6 before 10.6.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted help: URL, related to "URL parameters in HTML content."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1373 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Apple Mac OS X 10.6 operating system, specifically affecting versions prior to 10.6.4. This security weakness resides in the Help Viewer component, which is integral to the macOS user interface for accessing application documentation and system help files. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes help: URLs that contain crafted malicious parameters, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute unauthorized code within the context of a user's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Help Viewer's URL processing mechanism. When a user accesses help content through a specially crafted help: URL, the system fails to properly escape or filter HTML content that contains URL parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the user's browser context. This flaw operates at the intersection of web application security and operating system integration, as the Help Viewer component processes these URLs with inadequate security controls that should have been implemented to prevent such cross-site scripting scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft a help: URL that, when clicked by an unsuspecting user, would execute malicious JavaScript code that could capture keystrokes, steal cookies, or redirect users to phishing sites. This vulnerability particularly affects users running older versions of macOS who may not have received automatic security updates, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited in targeted phishing campaigns or broader exploitation efforts.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as a primary concern in web application security, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering attacks that leverage malicious help content. Organizations and individuals using affected macOS versions face elevated risk of compromise, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted help content or where automated exploitation tools could be deployed. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in all components that process user-supplied data, regardless of their perceived security boundary.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate installation of Apple's security update version 10.6.4, which addresses the URL parameter handling in the Help Viewer component. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all macOS systems receive timely security updates, particularly for operating system components that handle external content processing. Additionally, users should be educated about the dangers of clicking on untrusted help: URLs and the importance of verifying the source of help content before interacting with it. Network-level controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional protection layers, though the primary defense remains the timely application of vendor security patches. The vulnerability also underscores the need for regular security assessments of operating system components and the implementation of robust input validation controls throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar issues from emerging in future releases.