CVE-2010-2171 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 9.0.277.0 and 10.x before 10.1.53.64, and Adobe AIR before 2.0.2.12610, allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors related to SWF files, decompression of embedded JPEG image data, and the DefineBits and other unspecified tags, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-2160, CVE-2010-2165, CVE-2010-2166, CVE-2010-2175, CVE-2010-2176, CVE-2010-2177, CVE-2010-2178, CVE-2010-2180, CVE-2010-2182, CVE-2010-2184, CVE-2010-2187, and CVE-2010-2188.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2021
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 9.0.277.0 and 10.x versions before 10.1.53.64, along with Adobe AIR versions before 2.0.2.12610, contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited through maliciously crafted SWF files. This vulnerability specifically targets the decompression process of embedded JPEG image data within SWF files and affects various DefineBits and related tags. The flaw manifests when the Flash Player's handling of compressed image data fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions that can result in arbitrary code execution or denial of service.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting SWF files with malformed JPEG data that triggers improper memory handling during decompression. The vulnerability operates at the binary parsing level where the Flash Player's decompression engine fails to properly validate the size and structure of embedded image data, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout through carefully constructed input sequences. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation can lead to code execution within the Flash Player context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include potential remote code execution capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash content is frequently encountered. When exploited, the memory corruption can result in application crashes, system instability, or complete system compromise depending on the execution environment and exploitation method. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Adobe products and versions, including both desktop and mobile platforms, creating widespread exposure across various deployment scenarios. Organizations utilizing older versions of Flash Player or AIR are particularly at risk as these products are commonly used in web browsers, desktop applications, and mobile environments where users may encounter malicious content without proper security controls.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe products to the latest available versions, which contain proper input validation and memory handling mechanisms. Network administrators should implement content filtering and sandboxing measures to prevent execution of untrusted SWF content, particularly in high-risk environments. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling Flash Player entirely where possible, as the vulnerability landscape for Flash continues to expand with limited security updates. The recommended approach includes implementing automated patch management systems to ensure all Flash Player installations are updated promptly, combined with network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify any remaining installations of vulnerable Flash versions within their infrastructure, as these systems represent persistent attack vectors that can be leveraged by threat actors for broader compromise.