CVE-2010-1404 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 an SVG document that contains recursive Use elements, which are not properly handled during page deconstruction.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2021
The CVE-2010-1404 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple Safari browser across multiple operating systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of Scalable Vector Graphics documents containing recursive use elements, demonstrating a fundamental memory management issue that can be exploited remotely. The flaw exists in the page deconstruction process where recursive SVG elements are not properly managed, leading to memory that is freed but subsequently accessed by the browser engine. This particular vulnerability affects a wide range of Safari versions and operating systems including Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 on Mac platforms and Windows systems, as well as Mac OS X 10.4 with Safari versions prior to 4.1.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of recursive references within SVG documents during the browser's cleanup phase. When a web page containing SVG content with nested use elements is loaded and subsequently navigated away from or closed, the WebKit engine fails to properly track and manage the memory allocated for these recursive structures. This memory management failure creates a use-after-free condition where freed memory locations are accessed by subsequent operations, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause application crashes. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of web rendering and memory management, exploiting the gap between how SVG elements are processed and how the browser's memory cleanup routines handle recursive references.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential remote code execution capabilities that could compromise user systems. Attackers can craft malicious SVG documents that, when loaded in affected Safari versions, trigger the use-after-free condition during page navigation or document destruction. This creates a vector for exploitation that can be delivered through web pages, email attachments, or any mechanism that allows SVG content to be rendered within the browser. The vulnerability affects users across multiple platforms and operating system versions, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation framework where use-after-free conditions are frequently exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1404 primarily focus on immediate software updates and browser security hardening measures. Apple released Safari updates addressing this vulnerability in versions 5.0 for Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6, and 4.1 for Mac OS X 10.4, demonstrating the importance of keeping browser software current with security patches. Organizations should implement automated patch management systems to ensure all Safari installations receive updates promptly. Additionally, security-conscious administrators can deploy browser security extensions or content filtering systems that restrict SVG content processing or implement stricter security policies for web content. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416, which addresses use-after-free conditions, emphasizes the need for proper memory management practices in browser engine development and highlights the importance of code reviews focusing on memory lifecycle management. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services through web-based attacks, underscoring the need for comprehensive web application security measures and user education regarding safe browsing practices.