CVE-2010-1399 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
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, accesses uninitialized memory during a selection change on a form input element, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted HTML document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1399 represents a critical memory safety issue within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple Safari browser across multiple operating systems. This flaw exists in the handling of form input elements during selection change operations, specifically affecting 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 improper memory management practices where the browser fails to properly initialize memory locations before accessing them during form element selection changes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted HTML documents that trigger specific sequences in the WebKit engine's memory management routines. When a user interacts with form input elements and the selection changes, the browser attempts to access uninitialized memory locations that contain arbitrary data from previous operations. This uninitialized memory access creates a potential code execution vector that attackers can leverage to run malicious code on affected systems. The vulnerability manifests as either arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions, with the former presenting a severe security risk that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to compromised systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users of affected Safari versions across multiple operating systems. The attack surface is broad as it affects both Mac OS X and Windows platforms, with different version thresholds for exposure. The memory access pattern exploited by this vulnerability aligns with common software security flaws categorized under CWE-457, which addresses the use of uninitialized variables in software development. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter malicious web content.
The exploitation of CVE-2010-1399 demonstrates characteristics consistent with techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Execution, specifically targeting browser-based attack vectors that leverage memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations and individuals using affected Safari versions face substantial risk of compromise, as this vulnerability can be triggered through simple web page visits without requiring user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior. The vulnerability's classification as a memory safety issue places it within the broader context of software security practices that emphasize proper initialization of memory resources and robust input validation to prevent unauthorized code execution.
Security remediation for this vulnerability requires immediate updating of Safari browsers to versions that include patches addressing the uninitialized memory access issue. Apple released Safari updates that fixed this vulnerability in versions 5.0 for Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6, Windows, and 4.1 for Mac OS X 10.4. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where users may be exposed to untrusted web content. Additional mitigations include implementing browser security policies that restrict access to potentially malicious websites and ensuring that users maintain current browser versions through automated update mechanisms. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper memory management in browser engines and the potential consequences of uninitialized memory access patterns in complex software systems.