CVE-2010-1410 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, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via an SVG document with nested use elements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-1410 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple Safari's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple operating system versions. This issue specifically targets the processing of Scalable Vector Graphics documents containing nested use elements, creating a pathway for remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions. The vulnerability exists in Safari versions prior to 5.0 on Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows platforms, as well as before version 4.1 on Mac OS X 10.4, demonstrating the widespread impact across Apple's operating systems during that time period.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of nested SVG use elements within WebKit's rendering pipeline. When Safari processes an SVG document containing deeply nested use elements, the browser's memory management fails to properly validate or constrain the recursive structure, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers. This memory corruption manifests as either arbitrary code execution or application crashes, depending on the specific exploitation technique employed. The flaw operates at the core rendering engine level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant security risk for users who were running affected Safari versions, as it could be exploited through drive-by downloads or malicious websites without requiring any user interaction beyond normal browsing. The impact extends beyond individual user devices to potentially compromise entire corporate networks, as users visiting compromised websites could unknowingly execute malicious code on their systems. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and the attack surface is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through web-based attacks.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to patched versions of Safari, specifically Safari 5.0 for Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows, and Safari 4.1 for Mac OS X 10.4. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected systems and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web filtering solutions and browser hardening measures to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper memory management in browser engines, as it demonstrates how seemingly benign SVG processing can lead to critical security consequences. Users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their browsers updated to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the future.