CVE-2010-1806 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Apple Safari 4.x before 4.1.2 and 5.x before 5.0.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via run-in styling in an element, related to object pointers.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
The CVE-2010-1806 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Apple Safari web browser versions 4.x prior to 4.1.2 and 5.x prior to 5.0.2. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where program memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential attack vectors for remote code execution. The flaw manifests when Safari processes run-in styling within HTML elements, particularly affecting object pointers that are improperly managed during memory deallocation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web content that triggers the browser to access freed memory locations, leading to unpredictable behavior including arbitrary code execution or application crashes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves manipulating HTML elements that utilize run-in styling properties, which are CSS display properties that allow elements to be rendered inline with surrounding content while maintaining their block-level characteristics. When Safari processes such elements, the browser's rendering engine creates object pointers that reference memory locations containing element data. The use-after-free condition occurs when these pointers are not properly invalidated after the underlying memory is freed, allowing malicious code to overwrite or corrupt the freed memory space and potentially redirect execution flow. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-1806 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full remote code execution capabilities that align with ATT&CK technique T1059.3.001 for command and scripting interpreter. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the Safari process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Safari users across multiple operating systems including Mac OS X versions that shipped with affected browser versions. The exploitation chain typically begins with a malicious webpage delivered through phishing campaigns or compromised websites, where the crafted HTML content triggers the browser's memory management flaw during rendering operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patch deployment as recommended by Apple's security advisories, which provided fixes for both Safari 4.1.2 and 5.0.2 versions. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all affected Safari installations receive updates promptly. Additionally, browser hardening measures such as enabling sandboxing features, restricting browser permissions, and implementing web content filtering solutions can provide defense-in-depth protection. Network-level controls including web proxies and content filtering systems can help block access to known malicious domains that may host exploit code targeting this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include user education about avoiding suspicious websites and maintaining current browser versions through automatic update mechanisms, as this vulnerability represents a classic example of how browser memory management flaws can be exploited for remote code execution attacks.