CVE-2010-3822 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 an uninitialized pointer during processing of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) counter styles, 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
This vulnerability resides in the WebKit rendering engine used by Apple Safari browser across multiple operating systems including Mac OS X versions 10.4 through 10.6 and Windows platforms. The flaw specifically manifests during the processing of Cascading Style Sheets counter styles, which are CSS properties used to create numbered lists and other counter-based formatting elements. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management where the application accesses an uninitialized pointer when handling malformed CSS counter style declarations. This memory access violation represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The issue affects multiple versions of Safari across different operating systems, indicating a fundamental flaw in the WebKit engine's CSS processing logic that was not properly addressed in the affected releases. According to CWE standards, this corresponds to CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious web page delivers crafted CSS code containing malformed counter style declarations that trigger the uninitialized pointer access. When Safari processes these malformed styles, the uninitialized memory pointer causes unpredictable behavior that can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow. Attackers can leverage this by hosting malicious websites that contain specially crafted CSS code designed to trigger the specific memory access pattern. The vulnerability can result in two primary outcomes: arbitrary code execution allowing full system compromise or denial of service through application crashes. The memory access pattern exploited here represents a critical security flaw that bypasses standard memory protection mechanisms and can be executed without user interaction beyond visiting the malicious website. The exploitation vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no local privileges or user interaction beyond normal web browsing activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple platforms and versions, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams managing diverse computing environments. Organizations running affected Safari versions on Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.6 and Windows systems face potential compromise from remote attackers who can deploy malicious web content to exploit this flaw. The vulnerability's presence in multiple operating system versions suggests a widespread exposure that would require coordinated patching efforts across different platforms. Security administrators must consider the potential for zero-day exploitation of this vulnerability, as it represents a sophisticated attack vector that could be weaponized by threat actors. The impact includes not only direct system compromise but also potential data exfiltration and persistence mechanisms that attackers could establish through successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment to upgrade Safari to 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. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains. Browser security enhancements including sandboxing and privilege separation should be enabled to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory access patterns and application crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education regarding safe browsing practices and awareness of phishing attempts that might deliver malicious web content remains crucial. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing layered security controls to protect against sophisticated exploitation techniques that target core rendering engine components.