CVE-2010-1415 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, does not properly handle libxml contexts, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted HTML document, related to an "API abuse issue."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-1415 represents a critical security flaw within Apple Safari's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple operating system versions. This issue stems from improper handling of libxml contexts, which are essential components for XML processing within web browsers. The vulnerability exists across different platforms including Mac OS X versions 10.4 through 10.6 and Windows systems, making it particularly widespread and dangerous. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the browser through maliciously crafted HTML documents, creating potential pathways for arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in what is classified as an API abuse issue under CWE-664, where the WebKit engine fails to properly validate or manage the context in which libxml functions are executed. When Safari processes HTML documents containing specially crafted XML elements, the browser's handling of these libxml contexts becomes unstable, leading to memory corruption or unexpected behavior. This improper context management creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the browser application. The vulnerability specifically affects how the browser's XML parser interacts with the underlying libxml library, which is commonly used for processing XML data within web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with two primary attack vectors. The first vector enables remote code execution, which can result in complete system compromise when users visit malicious websites or open compromised emails containing the malicious HTML content. The second vector provides a denial of service capability that can crash the Safari browser application, disrupting user productivity and potentially serving as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including T1059 for command execution and T1499 for disruption of services, while the initial access mechanism aligns with T1190 for exploitation of web applications. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can target users across different operating systems, increasing the attack surface and potential impact.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1415 primarily involve immediate software updates and patches from Apple, which would address the underlying libxml context handling issues in the WebKit engine. Users should ensure they upgrade to Safari versions 5.0 for Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and 4.1 for Mac OS X 10.4, as these versions contain the necessary fixes for the API abuse issue. Network administrators should implement web content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains and consider deploying sandboxing technologies to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should maintain awareness of phishing attempts that might deliver malicious HTML content and avoid visiting untrusted websites. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper API usage and context management in browser security, highlighting how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening measures and monitoring for unusual browser behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.