CVE-2007-2500 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
server/parser/sprite_definition.cpp in GNU Gnash (aka GNU Flash Player) 0.7.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large number of SHOWFRAME elements within a DEFINESPRITE element, which triggers memory corruption and enables the attacker to call free with an arbitrary address, probably resultant from a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2500 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within GNU Gnash version 0.7.2, a free software implementation of Adobe Flash Player. This issue resides in the server/parser/sprite_definition.cpp component of the application, specifically within how the software processes DEFINESPRITE elements containing an excessive number of SHOWFRAME commands. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with a buffer overflow condition that can be exploited remotely to achieve arbitrary code execution.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of nested Flash sprite definitions where an attacker can craft malicious SWF content containing a DEFINESPRITE element with an excessive count of SHOWFRAME operations. When the GNU Gnash player processes this malformed content, it fails to properly validate the number of elements, leading to memory corruption. The corrupted memory state allows an attacker to manipulate the program's execution flow by calling the free function with an arbitrary memory address, effectively bypassing normal memory management protections.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of unsafe memory manipulation in interpreted multimedia content. The attack vector is remote, meaning an attacker can deliver malicious content through web browsers or other applications that utilize GNU Gnash for Flash content rendering. The operational impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially allow full system compromise, as demonstrated by the ability to control memory deallocation functions.
The security implications of CVE-2007-2500 align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of command and scripting interpreter for execution. Since GNU Gnash operates in a runtime environment that processes untrusted Flash content, this vulnerability creates an ideal attack surface for privilege escalation and persistent access. The flaw affects systems where GNU Gnash is installed and actively processes Flash content, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Flash compatibility is maintained for legacy applications. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of the broader ATT&CK framework's approach to software exploitation techniques, particularly those involving memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of patched versions of GNU Gnash, implementation of network-based restrictions on Flash content processing, and comprehensive security monitoring for anomalous memory access patterns. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls that prevent execution of untrusted Flash content and maintain detailed logging of multimedia processing activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory management in multimedia processing libraries, particularly those handling complex binary formats like SWF files.