CVE-2017-2510 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.2 is affected. Safari before 10.1.1 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to conduct Universal XSS (UXSS) attacks via a crafted web site that improperly interacts with pageshow events.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2510 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple iOS and Safari versions. This security weakness resides in the fundamental web browsing component that processes and displays web content across Apple's ecosystem. The flaw specifically targets the improper handling of pageshow events within the WebKit framework, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code in the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability affects iOS versions prior to 10.3.2 and Safari versions before 10.1.1, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's mobile and desktop platforms. The issue falls under the category of Universal Cross-Site Scripting, a sophisticated attack vector that can bypass traditional security mechanisms by exploiting the interaction between different web page events.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted web pages that manipulate pageshow events to inject malicious scripts into the browser environment. When a user navigates to a malicious website, the crafted page can trigger specific browser events that allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim's browser session. This particular flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign browser events can become attack vectors when not properly sanitized or validated by the WebKit engine. The vulnerability's classification as Universal XSS means that it can affect multiple browser contexts simultaneously, making it particularly dangerous for attackers seeking to maximize their impact across different browsing scenarios and security boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2510 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as the Universal XSS nature allows for more sophisticated attack chains that can compromise user privacy and system integrity. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive user information, manipulate browser behavior, or redirect users to malicious content without their knowledge. The vulnerability's presence in WebKit means that all applications relying on this rendering engine, including Safari, Mail, and various Apple applications with web viewing capabilities, could be compromised. This creates a cascading security risk that affects not just individual web browsing sessions but entire application ecosystems built on Apple's browser technologies.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The vulnerability demonstrates how browser engine components can become attack surfaces when event handling mechanisms are not properly secured against malicious input. Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates, as the attack surface remains significant for any system running vulnerable versions of iOS or Safari. The incident underscores the importance of regular security updates and the need for comprehensive browser security testing to identify and mitigate similar vulnerabilities in web rendering engines that form the backbone of modern web browsing experiences.