CVE-2010-3817 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
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, does not properly perform a cast of an unspecified variable during processing of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) 3D transforms, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2021
This vulnerability resides in the WebKit rendering engine used by Apple Safari browsers across multiple operating systems including Mac OS X versions 10.4 through 10.6 and Windows platforms. The flaw manifests during the processing of CSS 3D transforms, which are part of the Cascading Style Sheets specification designed to enable three-dimensional visual effects in web content. The vulnerability specifically involves an improper type casting operation that occurs when WebKit handles certain CSS 3D transformation properties, creating a condition where maliciously crafted web pages can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized code execution privileges or cause application instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which describes integer overflow and unsigned integer overflow conditions, and more specifically relates to improper type casting or conversion issues that can lead to memory corruption. When Safari processes CSS 3D transforms, the rendering engine attempts to convert an unspecified variable type during the transformation calculations, which can result in unpredictable behavior when the variable contains values that exceed the expected range for its intended type. This casting error creates a potential memory access violation that remote attackers can manipulate through carefully constructed web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3817 represents a significant security risk for users of affected Safari versions, as it enables remote code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to install malicious software, access sensitive data, or completely compromise user systems. The vulnerability affects a broad range of operating systems and browser versions, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with diverse computing environments. Additionally, the issue can be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly effective for phishing campaigns or drive-by download attacks.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The attack vector typically involves social engineering to lure users to visit compromised websites that contain malicious CSS code designed to trigger the type casting error. Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense including browser updates, network-based intrusion detection systems, and user education about avoiding untrusted websites. The most effective mitigation strategy involves applying the official security patches provided by Apple, which correct the type casting implementation in WebKit's CSS processing engine and prevent the memory corruption that enables exploitation.
Organizations should prioritize patch management for this vulnerability as it represents a critical security risk that can be exploited without user interaction and provides attackers with direct code execution capabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and type safety in browser rendering engines, particularly when handling complex CSS features like 3D transforms that require extensive mathematical calculations and memory management operations. Regular security assessments of web browser components and adherence to security best practices for web application development can help prevent similar issues in the future.