CVE-2010-3797 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Wiki Server in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8 and 10.6.x before 10.6.5 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3797 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Wiki Server component of Apple Mac OS X operating systems. This security weakness affects versions 10.5.8 and all 10.6.x releases prior to 10.6.5, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who can leverage this vulnerability to execute unauthorized code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability specifically resides in the Wiki Server functionality that processes user input, making it particularly dangerous in environments where collaborative documentation and knowledge sharing are prevalent.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Wiki Server implementation. Attackers with authenticated access to the system can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious scripts or HTML content that gets executed when other users view the compromised wiki pages. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw may manifest through multiple entry points including but not limited to page titles, content fields, or user-generated metadata within the wiki environment. This broad attack surface increases the likelihood of successful exploitation and makes the vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against through traditional perimeter security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3797 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. In enterprise environments where Mac OS X systems host collaborative workspaces, this vulnerability could compromise the integrity of shared documentation and expose confidential business information. The authenticated nature of the attack means that even limited user accounts could be leveraged to create persistent threats within the organization's knowledge management infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on wiki-based collaboration tools for internal documentation, project management, and knowledge sharing processes.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The weakness demonstrates poor input sanitization practices and inadequate output encoding that violates fundamental security principles for web application development. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under the web application attack patterns in the ATT&CK framework, specifically relating to the execution of malicious code through web interfaces. Organizations should prioritize patch management for affected systems, implement additional input validation measures, and consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2010-3797 requires immediate deployment of Apple's official security updates, particularly the 10.6.5 release which addresses this specific vulnerability. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running affected versions of Mac OS X and ensure all wiki server components are properly updated. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, establishing stricter input validation policies, and monitoring user activity for suspicious behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for users who interact with wiki systems can also help mitigate the risk of successful social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability.