CVE-2009-1869 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the ActionScript Virtual Machine 2 (AVM2) abcFile parser in Adobe Flash Player before 9.0.246.0 and 10.x before 10.0.32.18, and Adobe AIR before 1.5.2, allows attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an AVM2 file with a large intrf_count value that triggers a dereference of an out-of-bounds pointer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-1869 represents a critical integer overflow condition within Adobe Flash Player's ActionScript Virtual Machine 2 architecture. This flaw exists in the abcFile parser component that processes ActionScript bytecode files, specifically affecting versions prior to 9.0.246.0 for Flash Player and versions before 10.0.32.18 for Flash Player 10.x, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 1.5.2. The vulnerability manifests when processing maliciously crafted AVM2 files containing excessively large intrf_count values that exceed the expected integer limits.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the AVM2 file parsing logic where the parser fails to properly validate the intrf_count field value before using it to allocate memory or calculate array indices. When an attacker provides an abnormally large intrf_count value, the integer overflow causes the subsequent memory allocation or pointer arithmetic to produce an invalid memory address. This out-of-bounds pointer dereference creates a condition where the application attempts to access memory locations outside the allocated buffer boundaries, leading to unpredictable behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable remote code execution. When the integer overflow occurs, the application crashes due to the invalid memory access, resulting in a denial of service condition that can be exploited to disrupt legitimate users. However, the more severe implications arise when attackers can manipulate the overflow to control the memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code within the Flash Player process context. This represents a classic buffer overflow scenario that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or system compromise.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which specifically addresses issues where integer arithmetic produces results that exceed the maximum value representable by the data type. The attack pattern follows typical exploit methodologies described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of Adobe Flash Player applications, creating potential entry points for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-1869 require immediate patching of affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR installations to the patched versions that properly validate integer values and implement bounds checking. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and application whitelisting to restrict Flash Player execution, particularly in enterprise environments where the attack surface is larger. Additionally, monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns and file access attempts related to Flash Player processes can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in runtime environments and highlights the need for continuous security updates to address integer overflow conditions that can lead to remote code execution.