CVE-2002-1534 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Macromedia Flash Player allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via XML script in a .swf file that is hosted on a remote SMB share.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1534 represents a critical security flaw in Macromedia Flash Player that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on a victim's system through malicious XML script execution within .swf files hosted on remote SMB shares. This vulnerability specifically targets the Flash Player's handling of XML data and its interaction with Windows SMB (Server Message Block) protocol implementations. The flaw occurs when a Flash application attempts to load XML content from a remote SMB share, allowing attackers to craft malicious .swf files that can traverse the file system and retrieve sensitive data from the victim's machine.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between Flash Player and SMB network shares, where the player's XML parser fails to properly validate or sanitize file paths when accessing remote resources. When a Flash application loads content from an SMB share, the player may interpret certain XML directives as legitimate file access requests, enabling attackers to specify arbitrary file paths that can be resolved to local system files. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the Flash Player's file system access routines, which do not adequately distinguish between legitimate network resource access and malicious file system traversal attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive files including configuration data, user credentials, system logs, and other confidential information stored on the victim's local file system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform reconnaissance activities, gather intelligence about the target system, and potentially escalate privileges by accessing system files that contain authentication tokens or other sensitive data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may have access to network shares containing corporate data, as it allows attackers to bypass traditional network security controls and directly access local file systems.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command) within the CWE classification system, representing weaknesses in path validation and command execution handling. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers can craft malicious Flash content to execute arbitrary file access commands. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating Flash Player to patched versions, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to SMB shares, and deploying application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted Flash content. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious SMB traffic patterns and XML data access requests that may indicate exploitation attempts, while user education programs should emphasize the risks of executing Flash content from untrusted sources.