CVE-2010-1396 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free 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 execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via vectors related to the contentEditable attribute and removing container elements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2021
The CVE-2010-1396 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within WebKit's implementation in Apple Safari browsers across multiple operating systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of contentEditable attributes when container elements are removed from the document structure, creating a scenario where memory previously allocated to an object is accessed after it has been freed by the system. The flaw exists in 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, affecting a substantial user base of the time. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during dynamic content manipulation, where the browser fails to properly track object references when elements are removed from the DOM tree.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious web page constructs contentEditable elements and subsequently removes their containing parent elements while maintaining references to the child elements. This creates a scenario where the JavaScript engine attempts to access memory locations that have already been deallocated, leading to unpredictable behavior. The flaw operates at the intersection of DOM manipulation and memory management, where the garbage collector may prematurely free memory associated with contentEditable objects while JavaScript code continues to reference those freed locations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in memory management. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to craft malicious web pages that can trigger the memory corruption in a controlled manner, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution through carefully crafted memory layout and exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise. When exploited successfully, attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability's remote nature means that users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in the context of social engineering campaigns. The exploitation typically results in denial of service conditions that manifest as application crashes, but the underlying memory corruption opens pathways for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation or information disclosure. The vulnerability affects a wide range of users across different platforms, making it a high-priority target for threat actors seeking to maximize their exploitation scope.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1396 focus on immediate browser updates and system hardening measures. The primary and most effective mitigation is updating Safari to versions 5.0 or later on Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6, and 4.1 or later on Mac OS X 10.4, which contain patches that properly handle the memory management of contentEditable elements during DOM manipulation. Organizations should implement automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected systems. Additional protective measures include implementing web content filtering solutions that can block access to known malicious domains and configuring browser security settings to limit dynamic content execution. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can help detect and block exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should monitor for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in browser engines and highlights the need for continuous security testing of core web rendering components. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms that limit the impact of successful exploits and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle browser-based memory corruption vulnerabilities.