CVE-2010-3805 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Integer underflow in WebKit in Apple Safari before 5.0.3 on Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows, and before 4.1.3 on Mac OS X 10.4, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via vectors involving WebSockets. NOTE: this may overlap CVE-2010-3254.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-3805 represents a critical integer underflow condition within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple Safari browsers across multiple operating systems. This flaw specifically affects Safari versions prior to 5.0.3 on Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows platforms, as well as versions before 4.1.3 on Mac OS X 10.4. The vulnerability manifests in the WebSocket implementation, which is a protocol enabling full-duplex communication channels between web browsers and servers. The integer underflow occurs when the WebKit engine processes certain WebSocket-related data structures, causing mathematical calculations to produce values that fall below the minimum representable integer, thereby creating unpredictable behavior in memory management and control flow.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent weakness in how WebKit handles WebSocket frame processing and buffer allocation. When maliciously crafted WebSocket frames are received, the integer underflow can corrupt memory structures or cause pointer arithmetic to produce invalid memory addresses. This memory corruption directly translates into potential arbitrary code execution capabilities for remote attackers who can craft malicious web content or compromise web servers that serve such content. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple attack vectors as defined by the ATT&CK framework, specifically relating to privilege escalation through application vulnerabilities and remote code execution techniques. The underlying CWE classification for this issue aligns with CWE-190, which describes integer overflow or underflow conditions that can lead to memory corruption and execution control.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3805 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable complete system compromise. When exploited successfully, the integer underflow can cause Safari to crash unpredictably, leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt user productivity and web browsing capabilities. More critically, the vulnerability provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially allowing them to install malware, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability affects multiple versions of Mac OS X and Windows operating systems, making it particularly dangerous as it broadens the potential attack surface. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability may overlap with CVE-2010-3254, suggesting similar underlying mechanisms in the WebKit implementation that could indicate a broader class of integer underflow issues within the browser engine's network processing components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3805 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and browser version updates to ensure affected systems receive the necessary security fixes. Apple released Safari updates addressing this vulnerability in versions 5.0.3 for Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows, and 4.1.3 for Mac OS X 10.4. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all affected systems receive these updates promptly. Network administrators can also employ web filtering solutions and content security policies to limit exposure to potentially malicious WebSocket connections. Additionally, browser hardening techniques such as disabling WebSocket support in non-essential applications and implementing strict network segmentation can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation and integer arithmetic handling in web browser implementations, as highlighted by industry best practices in secure coding standards and the OWASP Top Ten security risks that emphasize the dangers of insufficient input validation and improper error handling in web applications.