CVE-2012-3713 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Apple Safari before 6.0.1 does not properly handle the Quarantine attribute of HTML documents, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to read arbitrary files by leveraging the presence of a downloaded document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3713 represents a significant security flaw in Apple Safari web browser versions prior to 6.0.1, specifically related to how the browser handles the Quarantine attribute of HTML documents. This issue stems from improper handling of file access controls that are typically enforced by macOS to prevent unauthorized access to downloaded content. The Quarantine attribute is a security mechanism implemented by macOS that marks files downloaded from the internet with metadata indicating their origin and potential security risks. When Safari processes HTML documents, it should properly enforce these security restrictions to prevent malicious exploitation.
The technical flaw manifests when Safari encounters HTML documents that have been marked with the Quarantine attribute, which typically indicates that the file was downloaded from the internet and may contain potentially unsafe content. In affected versions, Safari fails to properly validate or restrict access to these documents, allowing remote attackers to manipulate the browser into reading arbitrary files from the local filesystem. This occurs because the browser does not adequately enforce the security boundaries that the Quarantine attribute is designed to establish, creating a path for attackers to bypass normal file access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables user-assisted remote code execution through file disclosure attacks. Attackers can craft malicious HTML documents that, when opened in vulnerable Safari versions, can access and read files that would normally be protected by macOS security mechanisms. This includes potentially sensitive user data, configuration files, or other system resources that should remain isolated from web content. The vulnerability specifically targets the browser's handling of downloaded content and represents a privilege escalation issue where web content can access local filesystem resources beyond normal browser sandboxing.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access control issues in software applications. The flaw demonstrates poor implementation of access control mechanisms, particularly in how the browser handles security attributes that are normally enforced by the operating system. From an adversarial perspective, this issue maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1074 for data staging, as attackers can use this vulnerability to access and exfiltrate sensitive information from compromised systems. The attack requires user interaction through opening a malicious document, making it a classic example of a user-assisted remote attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3713 primarily focus on updating to Apple Safari 6.0.1 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper handling of the Quarantine attribute. System administrators should ensure all user devices are updated to the latest Safari versions and implement comprehensive patch management policies. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-level controls to restrict access to potentially malicious content and employ security awareness training to reduce the likelihood of users encountering and opening malicious documents. The fix involves proper enforcement of macOS security attributes and ensuring that browser behavior aligns with the operating system's security model for downloaded content.