CVE-2010-1758 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 vectors involving DOM Range objects.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within WebKit's implementation of DOM Range objects, affecting Apple Safari browsers across multiple operating systems. The flaw occurs when the browser processes certain web content that manipulates DOM Range objects, leading to memory management issues where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to execute arbitrary code remotely, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to compromise user systems. The vulnerability specifically impacts 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, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple platform versions.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves manipulating DOM Range objects through crafted web content that triggers memory allocation and deallocation sequences in an improper order. When a DOM Range object is freed from memory but subsequent operations attempt to access it, the application may dereference invalid memory pointers, leading to either arbitrary code execution or application crashes. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses Use After Free conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploitation scenarios. The memory corruption occurs at the browser engine level, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional network-based security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable complete system compromise. Remote attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in affected Safari browsers, trigger the use-after-free condition and execute malicious payloads with the privileges of the browser process. This creates significant risk for end users who may unknowingly visit compromised websites or click on malicious links in emails or web applications. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1203 technique for exploitation for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated system access. Additionally, the widespread deployment of affected Safari versions across both desktop and enterprise environments amplifies the potential impact of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate software updates to patched Safari versions, as provided by Apple through their security updates. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected platforms, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple users may be exposed to the vulnerability. Network-based mitigations can include implementing web content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms, though these provide only partial protection as the vulnerability can be exploited through various vectors including phishing attacks and compromised websites. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue makes it particularly susceptible to exploit mitigation techniques such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention, which should be enabled on affected systems. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns and browser behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence on similar vulnerabilities in the WebKit engine.