CVE-2009-3796 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 10.0.42.34 and Adobe AIR before 1.5.3 might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, related to a "data injection vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2021
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 10.0.42.34 and Adobe AIR versions before 1.5.3 contained a critical data injection vulnerability that could enable remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability falls under the category of data injection flaws that manipulate the processing of external data inputs within the application's runtime environment. The unspecified vectors suggest that attackers could exploit multiple pathways to inject malicious data that would be processed by the vulnerable components. The flaw represents a significant security weakness in Adobe's multimedia runtime platform that had been widely deployed across enterprise and consumer environments. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because Flash Player was commonly used to deliver rich internet applications and multimedia content, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise end-user systems. The data injection vulnerability allowed malicious actors to manipulate the way external data was handled during runtime execution, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on affected systems. Security researchers identified that the vulnerability stemmed from insufficient validation and sanitization of data inputs within the Flash Player's processing pipeline. This weakness could be exploited through malicious SWF files or web content that would be loaded and executed by the vulnerable Flash runtime. The impact of this vulnerability extended beyond individual user systems as Flash Player was integrated into numerous web applications, creating widespread exposure across different operating systems and network environments. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code" where the application allows external input to influence code generation or execution. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a code injection technique that leverages the runtime environment to execute malicious payloads. Organizations using affected versions of Flash Player and AIR were at risk of sophisticated attacks that could result in complete system compromise, data theft, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability highlighted the critical importance of keeping multimedia runtime components updated and the potential risks associated with legacy software in enterprise security postures. This flaw demonstrated how seemingly minor data handling issues could create significant security risks when present in widely deployed software platforms. The exploitation of this vulnerability required minimal user interaction beyond visiting malicious websites or opening compromised SWF files, making it particularly effective for mass deployment attacks.
The technical nature of this data injection vulnerability involved the manipulation of data streams that Flash Player processes during runtime execution. Attackers could craft malicious content that would be interpreted by the vulnerable runtime environment in unintended ways, potentially bypassing standard security controls. The vulnerability's impact was amplified by the widespread adoption of Flash Player across different platforms and applications, creating numerous potential attack vectors. Security assessments revealed that the flaw existed in the way external data was validated and processed within the Flash Player's memory management systems. This particular weakness allowed for the injection of malicious code that would execute with the privileges of the Flash Player process, potentially enabling full system compromise. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggested that multiple pathways existed for exploitation, making the vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against comprehensively. Organizations that had not updated their Flash Player installations were exposed to attacks that could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to their systems. The vulnerability's severity classification indicated that it could be exploited without user interaction in many scenarios, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where Flash content was commonly used in business applications. Security professionals noted that this vulnerability represented a classic example of how runtime environment flaws could be leveraged for privilege escalation and code execution attacks. The data injection mechanism exploited the trust relationships between Flash Player and external content sources, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through carefully crafted inputs. This attack vector was particularly concerning because it could be delivered through standard web browsing activities, making it difficult for users to protect themselves without updating their software components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of affected Flash Player and AIR installations to prevent exploitation. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive software update policies that ensured all Flash runtime components remained current with security patches. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date software inventory and implementing automated patch management systems to prevent similar issues. Security teams were advised to monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems. The remediation process involved updating to Adobe Flash Player 10.0.42.34 or later versions and Adobe AIR 1.5.3 or later, which contained fixes for the data injection vulnerability. Organizations should have also considered implementing network-based security controls to block known malicious Flash content and monitor for suspicious data injection patterns. The incident underscored the necessity of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify outdated software components that could be exploited. Defense-in-depth strategies recommended combining software patching with network segmentation and application whitelisting to reduce the attack surface. Security professionals emphasized that this vulnerability demonstrated the critical need for maintaining current security controls and the importance of rapid response to emerging threats. The exploitation of this vulnerability could be mitigated through proper software maintenance procedures and user education about the risks of visiting untrusted websites. Organizations that had implemented robust patch management processes were better positioned to protect against this and similar vulnerabilities in their environments. This case study illustrated how legacy software vulnerabilities could create persistent security risks that required ongoing attention and proactive remediation efforts. The vulnerability's resolution emphasized the importance of vendor security response capabilities and the need for organizations to maintain security awareness regarding their software dependencies and runtime environments.