CVE-2008-4823 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player 9.0.124.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to loose interpretation of an ActionScript attribute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4823 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Adobe Flash Player versions 9.0.124.0 and earlier, demonstrating the persistent security challenges associated with rich internet application platforms. This vulnerability stems from the Flash Player's permissive handling of ActionScript attributes, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate the runtime environment to execute unauthorized code. The flaw specifically exploits the loose interpretation of ActionScript attributes, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that can be executed within the context of a user's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of Flash Player's attribute parsing mechanisms, where the software fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters that are processed through ActionScript attributes. This loose interpretation creates opportunities for attackers to craft malicious SWF files or embed Flash content with specially crafted parameters that bypass security restrictions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the Flash Player's runtime environment rather than the underlying operating system or network infrastructure. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter - JavaScript, highlighting the script injection aspect of the exploit.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-4823 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the user's browser context. When exploited, the vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that can access cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive information stored in the user's browser. The attack vector typically involves delivering malicious Flash content through compromised websites, email attachments, or social engineering campaigns, where users unknowingly interact with the crafted content. This vulnerability affects users across various platforms including Windows, Mac OS, and Linux systems that have the vulnerable Flash Player version installed, making it particularly dangerous due to the widespread adoption of Flash Player technology.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4823 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates, as Adobe released patches to address the specific attribute parsing issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Flash Player installations are updated to versions that resolve this vulnerability. Network administrators can deploy content filtering solutions and web application firewalls to detect and block malicious Flash content before it reaches end users. Browser security configurations should include disabling Flash Player execution in web browsers or implementing strict security policies that limit Flash content interaction with sensitive data. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the risks of interacting with untrusted Flash content, while security monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual Flash-related network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated web-based attacks.