CVE-2010-1394 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 involving HTML document fragments.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2021
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the WebKit rendering engine used by Apple Safari browser across multiple operating system versions. The flaw 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 vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of HTML document fragments that occur during the browser's rendering process. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious HTML content that gets processed and executed within the browser context, potentially allowing unauthorized code execution in the victim's browser session.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications and browsers. The issue manifests when the WebKit engine encounters HTML document fragments that contain malicious script code or HTML tags that should be properly escaped or filtered. This occurs during the parsing and rendering phase where the browser fails to adequately sanitize user-controllable input that gets incorporated into web pages. The vulnerability represents a classic XSS attack vector where untrusted data flows directly into the browser's rendering engine without proper sanitization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, and redirection to malicious sites. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially compromising user accounts and sensitive information. This risk is particularly severe in environments where users access sensitive web applications or perform financial transactions through Safari browsers. The vulnerability affects both desktop operating systems and can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, compromised web applications, or social engineering campaigns that trick users into visiting harmful content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Safari browser versions to the latest secure releases. System administrators should implement comprehensive browser update policies and ensure all users maintain current versions of Safari to prevent exploitation. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls and content security policies that can detect and block suspicious script content. The implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within web applications can provide additional defense layers against similar vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual browser behavior patterns and potential XSS attack signatures. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1059.007 for script execution and T1566 for social engineering attacks that leverage browser vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in web browser implementations and ensure comprehensive protection against client-side attacks.