CVE-2010-2216 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 9.0.280 and 10.x before 10.1.82.76, and Adobe AIR before 2.0.3, allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-0209, CVE-2010-2213, and CVE-2010-2214.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 9.0.280 and 10.x versions before 10.1.82.76, along with Adobe AIR versions before 2.0.3, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represented a distinct threat vector from other contemporaneous Flash Player flaws including CVE-2010-0209, CVE-2010-2213, and CVE-2010-2214, indicating the complexity and breadth of security issues affecting the Flash runtime environment during this period. The unspecified attack vectors likely involved malformed data processing within Flash Player's memory management systems, potentially through manipulation of multimedia content, embedded objects, or script execution contexts. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability type, which represents out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The attack surface was particularly concerning given Flash Player's widespread deployment across web browsers and desktop environments, making it an attractive target for exploit development. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability could be exploited through malicious web content delivered via compromised websites or email attachments, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The memory corruption aspect suggests that attackers could manipulate heap memory structures or stack operations to overwrite critical program data or execution pointers, leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond simple code execution to include denial of service scenarios where legitimate Flash content could be rendered unstable or cause application crashes. Security researchers identified this issue as part of a broader pattern of memory safety vulnerabilities in Flash Player's handling of untrusted input data, highlighting the need for robust input validation and memory management practices. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for Windows Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, demonstrating how such memory corruption flaws can be leveraged for broader system compromise. Organizations deploying Flash Player needed to implement immediate patching strategies and consider alternative content delivery methods to reduce exposure. The vulnerability underscored the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such exploits. Additionally, browser vendors and security teams recognized this as a significant threat requiring coordinated response efforts to protect users across multiple platforms and deployment scenarios.
This vulnerability specifically impacted the memory management subsystem of Adobe Flash Player and AIR runtime environments, where improper handling of input data could lead to buffer overflows or heap corruption conditions. The technical flaw manifested when the Flash Player processed malformed multimedia or script content that triggered memory allocation errors, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate memory addresses and redirect program execution flow. The lack of specific vector details in the original CVE description indicates that multiple attack paths could exploit this weakness, suggesting a fundamental flaw in Flash Player's memory handling architecture rather than a single specific vulnerability. Such memory corruption issues typically arise from inadequate bounds checking or improper memory deallocation procedures within the runtime environment. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with CWE-119, which encompasses weaknesses related to the use of unsafe methods for memory management. This particular flaw represented a significant security gap in Adobe's software development lifecycle, where insufficient input validation and memory safety checks allowed malicious actors to craft payloads that could bypass normal security boundaries. The exploitation process likely involved crafting specially formatted Flash content that would trigger the memory corruption when processed by the vulnerable runtime, potentially leveraging techniques such as return-oriented programming or direct memory manipulation to achieve code execution. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability could be particularly challenging to detect and prevent due to its subtle nature and the complex interaction between various Flash Player components during content processing. The fact that this vulnerability existed in multiple major versions of Flash Player and AIR indicated that the underlying architectural issues were not simply isolated bugs but rather systemic problems in how these platforms handled memory allocation and deallocation operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2216 extended far beyond individual system compromise, affecting entire enterprise environments where Flash Player was widely deployed across multiple platforms and applications. Organizations with legacy systems relying heavily on Flash content for business operations faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including web-based phishing campaigns, malicious advertisements, or compromised content management systems. The memory corruption nature of this vulnerability meant that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within affected networks. Network security teams needed to implement immediate mitigation strategies including patch management programs, web application firewalls, and content filtering solutions to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in both Flash Player and AIR platforms created additional complexity for security administrators, as they needed to ensure comprehensive coverage across all Adobe runtime environments. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability represented a significant entry point for advanced persistent threats, as attackers could leverage the memory corruption to establish footholds within corporate networks. The impact was particularly severe in environments where Flash Player was used to deliver critical business applications, as exploitation could result in complete service disruption or data loss. Security incident response teams needed to prepare for potential widespread exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's ease of exploitation and the prevalence of Flash Player installations made it an attractive target for automated attack tools. The vulnerability's long lifespan in the threat landscape highlighted the importance of continuous security monitoring and rapid patch deployment processes to protect against similar memory safety issues in other software platforms. Organizations implementing security controls needed to consider the broader implications of this vulnerability on their overall security posture, as it demonstrated the critical need for robust software supply chain security practices and regular security assessments of deployed applications. The vulnerability also underscored the importance of user education and awareness programs, as many exploitation attempts relied on social engineering techniques to deliver malicious Flash content to unsuspecting users.