CVE-2010-2167 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in Adobe Flash Player before 9.0.277.0 and 10.x before 10.1.53.64, and Adobe AIR before 2.0.2.12610, might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors related to malformed (1) GIF or (2) JPEG data.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2021
Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR suffered from multiple heap-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities that existed in the handling of malformed image data formats. These vulnerabilities affected versions prior to 9.0.277.0 for Flash Player 9 and prior to 10.1.53.64 for Flash Player 10, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 2.0.2.12610. The flaws occurred when processing malformed gif and jpeg image data, creating opportunities for remote code execution attacks. The vulnerabilities are classified as heap-based buffer overflows which fall under CWE-121, indicating that insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. These issues represent a critical security risk as they enable attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems simply by tricking users into viewing maliciously crafted image files through Flash Player or AIR applications. The attack vectors typically involved delivering specially crafted gif or jpeg files that would trigger the buffer overflow conditions during image parsing operations. According to ATT&CK framework, these vulnerabilities map to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for client execution, as they allow for remote code execution through legitimate application interfaces. The technical implementation of these flaws occurred within the image decoding libraries used by Flash Player and AIR, where insufficient validation of image metadata and pixel data could lead to memory corruption. The impact of successful exploitation included complete system compromise, as attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to gain arbitrary code execution privileges on targeted systems. The vulnerabilities were particularly dangerous because they could be triggered through web browsing activities, making them suitable for drive-by download attacks and social engineering campaigns. Organizations using affected versions of Flash Player and AIR were at significant risk, as these applications were widely deployed across enterprise environments and consumer devices, creating extensive attack surfaces. The remediation required updating to patched versions of Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR, with the specific version numbers provided in the security advisories. System administrators needed to implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected installations were updated promptly. The vulnerabilities also highlighted the importance of input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing libraries, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-144 and OWASP Top Ten. Organizations should have implemented network monitoring to detect exploitation attempts and applied additional security controls such as application whitelisting and sandboxing to limit the impact of potential successful attacks. The incident demonstrated the ongoing challenges in securing multimedia frameworks and the critical need for regular security updates in widely used software components. These vulnerabilities represented a classic example of how image processing libraries can become attack vectors, emphasizing the necessity for robust bounds checking and memory management practices in all software components that handle untrusted data. The exploitation of these flaws required minimal user interaction, making them particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users might inadvertently encounter malicious content through web browsing or email attachments. Security professionals needed to monitor for indicators of compromise related to these vulnerabilities and implement layered defense strategies to protect against similar future attacks. The vulnerabilities also underscored the importance of secure coding practices and code reviews, particularly for components handling file format parsing and multimedia data processing, as these areas remain common targets for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized system access.