CVE-2011-0237 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple Safari before 5.0.6, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site, a different vulnerability than other WebKit CVEs listed in APPLE-SA-2011-07-20-1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0237 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit engine's implementation in Apple Safari browsers prior to version 5.0.6. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that have historically proven to be among the most dangerous classes of software defects, as they can be exploited to achieve remote code execution or system compromise. The WebKit engine serves as the core rendering engine for Safari and numerous other web browsers, making this flaw particularly impactful across multiple platforms and applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within WebKit's JavaScript engine, specifically in how it processes certain web content structures. Attackers can craft malicious websites that trigger memory corruption conditions when Safari renders these pages, leading to unpredictable behavior including application crashes or more severely arbitrary code execution. The flaw operates through memory corruption mechanisms that align with common software vulnerabilities classified under CWE-125 as out-of-bounds read conditions and CWE-787 as out-of-bounds write conditions. These memory safety issues typically arise from inadequate bounds checking in memory allocation and deallocation operations, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser exploitation, as it represents a significant threat vector for man-in-the-middle attacks and drive-by download scenarios. When users visit compromised websites, the malicious code can be automatically executed without any user interaction, making this particularly dangerous for enterprise environments and users who browse untrusted content. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely map to T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1203 for exploitation for client execution, as it enables attackers to leverage web-based delivery mechanisms to execute arbitrary code on target systems. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive for advanced persistent threat actors seeking to establish footholds within networks through browser-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0237 primarily focus on immediate patching and browser updates, as Apple released Safari 5.0.6 specifically to address this vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls, implementing content filtering solutions, and educating users about avoiding untrusted websites. The vulnerability's nature suggests that traditional security controls may not fully protect against such low-level memory corruption exploits, making layered defense strategies essential. Network administrators should also monitor for suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the memory corruption nature of the vulnerability can manifest in various ways during exploitation attempts.