CVE-2009-1696
Description
WebKit in Apple Safari before 4.0, iPhone OS 1.0 through 2.2.1, and iPhone OS for iPod touch 1.1 through 2.2.1 uses predictable random numbers in JavaScript applications, which makes it easier for remote web servers to track the behavior of a Safari user during a session.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
WebKit in Safari and iPhone OS uses predictable random numbers in JavaScript, enabling session tracking by remote servers.
Vulnerability
WebKit in Apple Safari versions before 4.0, iPhone OS 1.0 through 2.2.1, and iPhone OS for iPod touch 1.1 through 2.2.1 uses predictable random numbers in JavaScript applications [1][2]. This affects the Math.random() function or similar random number generation, making the output predictable.
Exploitation
A remote web server can exploit this by serving a malicious web page that calls JavaScript random number functions. Without any user interaction beyond visiting the page, the server can predict the random numbers generated by the browser, allowing it to track the user's session behavior across page loads or tabs.
Impact
An attacker can track the behavior of a Safari user during a session, potentially correlating actions across different web pages or tabs. This is a privacy violation, as it enables user fingerprinting and session tracking without consent. The impact is limited to information disclosure of browsing patterns.
Mitigation
Apple addressed this vulnerability in Safari 4.0 [1] and iOS 3.0 [2]. Users should update to Safari 4.0 or later on Mac OS X, and to iOS 3.0 or later on iPhone and iPod touch. No workaround is available for older versions.
AI Insight generated on May 24, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected products
37cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:0.8:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*+ 34 more
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:0.8:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:0.9:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:1.0.3:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:1.0:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:1.1:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:1.2:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:1.3.1:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:1.3.2:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:1.3:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:2.0.2:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:2.0.4:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:2.0:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.0.1:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.0.2:-:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.0.2:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.0.3:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.0.3:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.0.4:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.0.4:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.0:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.0:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.1.1:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.1.1:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.1.2:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.1.2:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.1:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.1:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.2.1:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.2.1:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.2.2:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.2.3:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:3.2:-:windows:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:*:*:mac:*:*:*:*:*range: <=4.0_beta
- cpe:2.3:a:apple:safari:*:*:windows:*:*:*:*:*range: <=3.2.3
- (no CPE)range: <4.0
- Range: 1.0-2.2.1
- Range: 1.1-2.2.1
Patches
0No patches discovered yet.
Vulnerability mechanics
AI mechanics synthesis has not run for this CVE yet.
References
12- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/jun/msg00002.htmlnvdPatchVendor Advisory
- support.apple.com/kb/HT3613nvdPatchVendor Advisory
- www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1522nvdPatchVendor Advisory
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/35260nvdExploit
- secunia.com/advisories/35379nvdVendor Advisory
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/Jun/msg00005.htmlnvd
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00006.htmlnvd
- osvdb.org/55027nvd
- secunia.com/advisories/43068nvd
- support.apple.com/kb/HT3639nvd
- www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1621nvd
- www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0212nvd
News mentions
0No linked articles in our index yet.