CVE-2010-3820 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, accesses uninitialized memory during processing of editable elements, 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 • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3820 represents a critical memory safety issue within Apple Safari's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple operating system versions. This flaw manifests during the processing of editable web elements, where the browser fails to properly initialize memory before accessing it, creating a potential exploitation vector for remote attackers. The vulnerability impacts Mac OS X versions 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows platforms, with specific versions affected including Safari before 5.0.3 on newer systems and before 4.1.3 on Mac OS X 10.4. The issue stems from improper memory management during the handling of editable content, which falls under the category of uninitialized memory access patterns that have been historically associated with exploitation techniques.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-457, which describes the use of uninitialized variables in software development, and can be categorized under the broader class of memory corruption vulnerabilities that are frequently targeted by cyber adversaries. When Safari processes editable web elements such as text areas or contenteditable attributes, the WebKit engine attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized with valid data. This uninitialized memory access creates a scenario where attackers can craft malicious web pages that trigger specific memory access patterns, potentially leading to information disclosure or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability operates through a classic buffer over-read or memory access violation pattern that can be leveraged to manipulate the execution flow of the browser process.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users of affected Safari versions as it enables remote code execution capabilities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attack surface is particularly concerning given Safari's widespread use on both desktop and mobile platforms, with the vulnerability affecting users across multiple operating system versions. The potential for denial of service through application crashes represents an additional concern, as it can be used to disrupt user activities and potentially serve as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation requires knowledge of specific memory access patterns and browser internals, making it a target for advanced persistent threat actors who may have the capability to develop sophisticated exploit code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3820 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to Safari versions 5.0.3 or later on Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6, and 4.1.3 or later on Mac OS X 10.4, which contain patches addressing the uninitialized memory access issue. Network administrators should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Browser security configurations should be reviewed to disable unnecessary features that might increase the attack surface, including disabling JavaScript in sensitive contexts when possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of memory safety practices in web browser development and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution within the browser context. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to detect and block malicious web content that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability, particularly in environments where immediate patching is not feasible.