CVE-2010-0544

Vulnerability

A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in WebKit, the rendering engine used in Apple Safari versions prior to 5.0 on Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.6 and Windows, and prior to 4.1 on Mac OS X 10.4. The issue is triggered by a malformed URL, which fails to properly sanitize input, allowing arbitrary web script or HTML to be injected into the context of a user's session [2].

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious URL that, when visited by a victim using an affected version of Safari, causes WebKit to execute attacker-controlled script or HTML in the user's browser. The attacker does not require authentication or any special network position beyond the ability to deliver the URL (e.g., via email, a link, or a compromised website). User interaction is limited to clicking the crafted link [1][2].

Impact

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to inject arbitrary web script or HTML into the Safari rendering environment, leading to potential disclosure of sensitive information (such as cookies or session tokens), modification of page content, or further attacks within the user's browser session. The attack leverages the user's existing privileges in the browser context, which could lead to broader compromise of the user's data or accounts on the affected domain [2].

Mitigation

Apple addressed this vulnerability in Safari 5.0 (for Mac OS X 10.5–10.6 and Windows) and Safari 4.1 (for Mac OS X 10.4). Users should update to these versions or later. No workarounds have been published. The vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog as of the publication date [2].