CVE-2010-1761 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 HTML document subtrees.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2025
The CVE-2010-1761 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within WebKit's JavaScriptCore engine that affected Apple Safari browsers across multiple operating systems. This vulnerability resides in the memory management handling of HTML document subtrees, specifically within the garbage collection and object reference mechanisms. The flaw manifests when the browser processes malformed HTML content that triggers improper memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to freed memory locations, creating a dangerous condition that adversaries can exploit for arbitrary code execution.
This vulnerability operates at the intersection of several cybersecurity domains and aligns with CWE-416, which describes the use of freed memory condition. The technical implementation involves the JavaScriptCore engine's handling of DOM tree modifications where certain HTML parsing scenarios cause objects to be freed from memory while still maintaining active references or pointers. The flaw is particularly insidious because it can be triggered through web-based attacks without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it highly suitable for drive-by download attacks and social engineering campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-1761 extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Safari process, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects multiple platform versions including Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows systems, while also impacting older Mac OS X 10.4 versions, demonstrating the widespread nature of the flaw across Apple's browser ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Safari versions, with Apple releasing Safari 5.0 for Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Safari 4.1 for Mac OS X 10.4. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including sandboxing, privilege separation, and regular security updates. The vulnerability also maps to several ATT&CK tactics including initial access through malicious websites, privilege escalation via code execution, and persistence mechanisms that attackers might establish using the compromised browser. Network security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious content targeting this specific memory corruption vulnerability, though the most effective defense remains timely patch management and user education regarding safe browsing practices.