CVE-2011-3218 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The "Save for Web" selection in QuickTime Player in Apple Mac OS X through 10.6.8 exports HTML documents that contain an http link to a script file, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by spoofing the http server during local viewing of an exported document.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3218 represents a significant security flaw in Apple Mac OS X versions through 10.6.8 within the QuickTime Player application. This issue specifically affects the "Save for Web" functionality which generates HTML documents for web publishing purposes. The flaw manifests when QuickTime Player exports content using this feature, creating HTML files that contain embedded hyperlinks pointing to external script resources. The security implications arise from the fact that these generated HTML documents reference script files through http protocols without proper validation or sanitization of the referenced URLs.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding within the QuickTime Player's HTML generation process. When users export media content using the "Save for Web" feature, the application creates HTML documents that include http links to external script files. This design flaw creates an opportunity for man-in-the-middle attackers to intercept network traffic and replace the legitimate script content with malicious payloads. The vulnerability specifically targets the local viewing context where users open these exported HTML documents, making it particularly dangerous as it exploits the trust relationship between the browser and locally stored content.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3218 extends beyond simple cross-site scripting attacks to potentially enable more sophisticated exploitation techniques. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the user's browser when they open the exported HTML documents locally. This creates a vector for privilege escalation attacks and can lead to full system compromise depending on the user's privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a widely used media application that many users trust implicitly, making social engineering attacks more effective as users are less likely to suspect malicious content in legitimate applications.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution through web browsers. The flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices in input sanitization and output encoding, particularly in applications that generate web content. The vulnerability also reflects weaknesses in the principle of least privilege and secure by design approaches, as the application fails to properly validate or sanitize external references in generated content. Organizations should note that this vulnerability was present in multiple versions of Mac OS X, indicating a systemic issue in the application's security architecture rather than a simple isolated bug.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3218 primarily involve immediate system updates and patch management procedures. Apple released security updates to address this vulnerability in subsequent Mac OS X versions, and users should ensure they are running patched versions of the operating system. Network administrators should implement strict monitoring of local file access patterns and consider deploying content filtering solutions to prevent execution of potentially malicious HTML content. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening exported content from untrusted sources, and organizations should establish policies requiring verification of all exported content before local viewing. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure code review processes and regular security testing for applications that generate web content, particularly those with broad user bases and trusted application contexts.