CVE-2011-3230

Apple Safari - Remote Code Execution via File URL Policy Bypass

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-2011-3230. PoCs published by Metasploit, Aaron Sigel, sinn3r, including Metasploit module exploits/osx/browser/safari_file_policy.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This Metasploit module exploits a file:// URL policy vulnerability in Apple Safari 5.1 on macOS, allowing arbitrary code execution by serving a malicious payload via FTP and triggering its execution through a crafted HTML page. The exploit leverages the victim's browser to execute a payload from a remote share or local directory.

Description

Apple Safari before 5.1.1 on Mac OS X does not enforce an intended policy for file: URLs, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Metasploit · rubyremoteosx
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/17986

This Metasploit module exploits a file:// URL policy vulnerability in Apple Safari 5.1 on macOS, allowing arbitrary code execution by serving a malicious payload via FTP and triggering its execution through a crafted HTML page. The exploit leverages the victim's browser to execute a payload from a remote share or local directory.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apple Safari 5.1 on macOS
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must visit a malicious webpage · FTP server accessible to the victim · Payload must be executable in the target environment
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC NORMAL
by Aaron Sigel, sinn3r · rubypoc
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/osx/browser/safari_file_policy.rb

This Metasploit module exploits a policy issue in Apple Safari (CVE-2011-3230) to achieve arbitrary code execution via file:// URLs. It sets up an FTP and HTTP server to deliver a payload (either a .jar or .sh file) to the victim's machine, leveraging automount or directory traversal to execute the payload.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apple Safari 5.1 on OS X
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must visit a malicious link or have a share mounted · FTP and HTTP server accessibility from the victim's machine
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (5)

Core 5
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/70567
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_apple
http://lists.apple.com/archives/Security-announce/2011//Oct/msg00004.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_osvdb
http://osvdb.org/76389
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5000
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/50162

Scores

EPSS 0.5021
EPSS Percentile 98.8%

Details

CWE
CWE-264
Status published
Products (35)
apple/safari
apple/safari 1.0 (3 CPE variants)
apple/safari 1.0.0
apple/safari 1.0.0b1
apple/safari 1.0.0b2
apple/safari 1.0.1
apple/safari 1.0.2
apple/safari 1.0.3 (3 CPE variants)
apple/safari 1.0b1
apple/safari 1.1
... and 25 more
Published Oct 14, 2011
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026