CVE-2009-3797 in AIR
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player 10.x before 10.0.42.34 and Adobe AIR before 1.5.3 might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors that trigger memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2021
Adobe Flash Player versions 10.x prior to 10.0.42.34 and Adobe AIR versions before 1.5.3 contained critical memory corruption vulnerabilities that could be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution on affected systems. These vulnerabilities arose from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within the multimedia runtime environment. The unspecified vectors that triggered these memory corruption issues typically involved malformed or maliciously crafted Flash content that when processed by the vulnerable software would cause memory allocation errors, buffer overflows, or heap corruption conditions. The technical flaw represents a classic memory safety vulnerability that aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, which are commonly exploited in browser and runtime environment attacks. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities by delivering malicious Flash content through web browsers or desktop applications, potentially executing arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. The operational impact was significant as Flash Player was widely deployed across desktop environments and web browsers, making these vulnerabilities highly exploitable targets for cybercriminals. The attack surface extended beyond simple web browsing to include desktop applications that integrated Flash content, creating multiple potential entry points for exploitation. Organizations running these vulnerable versions faced elevated risk of compromise, as the vulnerabilities could be triggered through legitimate web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting malicious websites. The memory corruption nature of these flaws made them particularly dangerous as they could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to bypass security controls and establish persistent access. According to ATT&CK framework, these vulnerabilities map to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious code and potentially escalate privileges. The remediation required immediate deployment of patches from Adobe, specifically updating Flash Player to version 10.0.42.34 or later and Adobe AIR to version 1.5.3 or later. Organizations should have implemented network-based protections including web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block malicious Flash content. Additionally, security teams needed to conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions and prioritize patch deployment. The incident highlighted the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia runtime environments and implementing layered security controls to protect against zero-day exploits targeting widely deployed software components. These vulnerabilities demonstrated how legacy software components could serve as persistent attack vectors, emphasizing the need for regular security maintenance and vulnerability management programs. The exploitation of these memory corruption flaws represented a common attack pattern against runtime environments and underscored the necessity of proactive security measures including regular patching, network monitoring, and application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized code execution.