CVE-2010-1788 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit in Apple Safari before 5.0.1 on Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows, and before 4.1.1 on Mac OS X 10.4; and webkitgtk before 1.2.6; allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a use element in an SVG document.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-1788 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple Safari and other web browsers utilizing this component. This issue affects multiple operating systems including various versions of Mac OS X and Windows, making it particularly dangerous due to its broad attack surface. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing Scalable Vector Graphics documents containing malicious use elements, which can trigger unpredictable behavior in the browser's rendering pipeline.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper memory handling within WebKit's SVG processing functionality. When the browser encounters a malformed use element within an SVG document, the rendering engine fails to properly validate or sanitize the input data before attempting to render it. This leads to memory corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system or cause denial of service conditions through application crashes. The flaw operates at the level of memory management and object allocation within the browser's rendering engine, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional security measures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users of affected Safari versions across multiple platforms. Attackers can craft malicious SVG documents that, when viewed in a vulnerable browser, will automatically trigger the exploit without any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation and system compromise, as the memory corruption can be leveraged to gain control over the browser process and potentially the underlying operating system. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes, both of which are common in rendering engine exploits.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, specifically targeting web browsers through malicious web content. The exploit can be delivered through various means including compromised websites, malicious email attachments, or social engineering campaigns that trick users into visiting harmful content. Organizations and individuals running affected versions of Safari should immediately implement mitigations including disabling SVG support in web browsers, updating to patched versions, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious SVG content. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security updates and the risks associated with outdated software components in modern web browsing environments.
Security researchers have documented numerous real-world exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, demonstrating its practical threat level. The patch for this issue required comprehensive memory validation and input sanitization improvements within the WebKit rendering engine's SVG parser. Organizations should ensure all systems are updated to Safari 5.0.1 or later versions for Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6, Safari 4.1.1 or later for Mac OS X 10.4, or webkitgtk 1.2.6 and later versions to mitigate this risk effectively. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and the potential consequences of running outdated rendering engines in modern web environments.