Apple Safari Webkit FrameOwner Element Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

July 27th, 2011
ZDI-11-239 ZDI-CAN-1047

CVE ID

CVE-2011-0233

CVSS Score

7.5 AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Affected Vendors

Apple

Affected Products

WebKit

Vulnerability Details

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Apple Safari Webkit. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.

The specific flaw exists within the library's implementation of a FrameOwner element. When building this tree, the application will create a duplicate reference of an element. By freeing the referenced element, a use-after-free condition can be made to occur which can lead to code execution under the context of the application.

Additional Details

Apple has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4808

Disclosure Timeline

  • 2011-01-21 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
  • 2011-07-27 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

wushi of team509

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