CVE-2010-1419 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 user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via vectors involving a certain window close action that occurs during a drag-and-drop operation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2025
The CVE-2010-1419 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 affects 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 flaw manifests during specific user interactions involving window close actions that occur concurrently with drag-and-drop operations, creating a dangerous condition where memory previously freed by the application is accessed again by malicious code. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, making it a well-documented and severe class of memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a user performs a drag-and-drop operation within a web page while simultaneously closing a browser window or tab. During this concurrent action, the WebKit engine fails to properly manage memory references, allowing an attacker to manipulate the freed memory location and potentially inject or execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability leverages the interaction between the browser's window management system and its rendering engine, creating a race condition where memory deallocation and access occur in an improper sequence. This particular attack vector demonstrates how complex interactions between different browser components can create unexpected security weaknesses, particularly when dealing with asynchronous operations and memory management.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users of affected Safari versions as it can be exploited through user-assisted remote attacks, meaning that an attacker does not require direct access to the target system but can convince a user to visit a malicious web page or perform specific actions. The potential impact includes arbitrary code execution, which could allow attackers to gain full control over the victim's system, or denial of service conditions that could crash the browser application and potentially disrupt user productivity. The vulnerability's presence across multiple operating systems including both Mac OS X and Windows platforms increases its attack surface and makes it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where diverse operating systems coexist.
Security mitigations for CVE-2010-1419 primarily focus on 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 immediate deployment of these updates across all affected systems. Additional protective measures include implementing web content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious sites, enabling sandboxing features that limit the impact of potential exploits, and educating users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper memory management practices in browser development and the need for comprehensive testing of concurrent operations. Organizations should consider implementing security monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous browser behavior or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical nature of memory safety in modern web browsers and the potential consequences when such protections fail.