CVE-2006-6827 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Flash8b.ocx in Macromedia Flash 8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Internet Explorer 7 crash) via a long string in the Flash8b.AllowScriptAccess method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6827 represents a classic buffer overflow condition affecting the Flash8b.ocx ActiveX control component within Macromedia Flash 8 software. This flaw specifically manifests when the Flash8b.AllowScriptAccess method processes excessively long string inputs, creating a scenario where malicious actors can manipulate the control's behavior to trigger system instability. The vulnerability exists in the context of Internet Explorer 7 environments where ActiveX controls are executed, making it particularly dangerous for users running older Microsoft browsers that were prevalent during the mid-2000s era. The affected component Flash8b.ocx serves as a critical interface point between Flash content and the Windows operating system, enabling script access permissions for embedded multimedia content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the AllowScriptAccess method of the Flash8b.ocx ActiveX control. When a malformed or excessively long string is passed to this method, the control fails to properly handle the boundary conditions, leading to memory corruption within the application's execution context. This memory corruption typically results in stack overflow conditions or heap corruption scenarios that cause Internet Explorer 7 to crash abruptly, effectively rendering the browser unusable for the affected user. The flaw operates at the kernel level of ActiveX control execution, where the control's memory management routines do not adequately protect against buffer overflows that can be induced through crafted input parameters. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-6827 extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a critical security weakness that could potentially be leveraged in more sophisticated attack vectors. While the primary effect manifests as browser crashes, the underlying memory corruption vulnerabilities create opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code within the victim's system context. The vulnerability affects users who have Flash 8 installed on Internet Explorer 7 systems, which was a common configuration during the period when this vulnerability was discovered. Attackers can exploit this flaw by hosting malicious Flash content on compromised websites, where the embedded ActiveX control automatically executes when users navigate to the page. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where users may be running outdated software versions, as it creates persistent security risks that can be exploited by threat actors without requiring complex exploitation techniques. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of known vulnerabilities in software components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-6827 focus primarily on immediate software updates and security configuration changes. Users should immediately upgrade to newer versions of Flash Player that contain patched implementations of the AllowScriptAccess method, as Adobe released updates specifically addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should implement ActiveX control restrictions within Internet Explorer security policies, disabling or restricting the execution of potentially vulnerable ActiveX components. The most effective long-term solution involves migrating away from Flash-based content entirely, as Adobe officially discontinued Flash Player support in 2020, rendering such vulnerabilities obsolete through end-of-life status. Security administrators should also consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious ActiveX content delivery, while monitoring for exploitation attempts targeting known vulnerable components. Regular security assessments should verify that all systems have been updated to eliminate exposure to this and similar legacy vulnerabilities that remain prevalent in outdated software environments.