CVE-2010-3649 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 9.0.289.0 and 10.x before 10.1.102.64 on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris, and 10.1.95.1 on Android, allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-3640, CVE-2010-3641, CVE-2010-3642, CVE-2010-3643, CVE-2010-3644, CVE-2010-3645, CVE-2010-3646, CVE-2010-3647, CVE-2010-3648, CVE-2010-3650, and CVE-2010-3652.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2021
This vulnerability resides within Adobe Flash Player's runtime environment and represents a critical memory corruption flaw that affects multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris. The vulnerability specifically impacts Flash Player versions prior to 9.0.289.0 and 10.x versions before 10.1.102.64, while Android devices are affected by versions before 10.1.95.1. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various methods that were not explicitly documented in the initial CVE description. This type of memory corruption vulnerability typically arises from improper handling of user-supplied data or buffer overflow conditions within the Flash Player's parsing or rendering components, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the execution context of the vulnerable application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that are commonly classified under CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-416 Use After Free categories. These memory corruption flaws can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios as the memory corruption can be manipulated to overwrite critical program structures or execute malicious payloads directly within the browser context. Attackers typically craft malicious Flash content that when loaded by the vulnerable Flash Player triggers the memory corruption, allowing for privilege escalation and persistent access to target systems. The fact that this vulnerability operates through unknown vectors means that defensive measures must account for potential exploitation through previously undiscovered attack pathways.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3649 represents a significant security risk for organizations deploying legacy Flash Player versions across their networks. This vulnerability can be exploited through web-based attacks where users inadvertently visit compromised websites or receive malicious Flash content through email attachments or instant messaging systems. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that security teams must implement comprehensive patch management strategies across all supported operating systems and device types. Organizations may experience unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installations when this vulnerability is successfully exploited. The memory corruption aspect creates potential for both remote code execution and system instability, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors seeking to establish long-term presence within network environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and comprehensive security monitoring. Organizations should prioritize updating all Flash Player installations to versions 9.0.289.0 or later for Flash Player 9, and 10.1.102.64 or later for Flash Player 10, with specific attention to Android devices requiring version 10.1.95.1 or higher. Network-based defenses should include web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block malicious Flash content, while endpoint protection solutions should implement behavioral monitoring to identify suspicious Flash Player activities. Security teams should also consider implementing Adobe Flash Player lockdown configurations and browser sandboxing to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework category TA0002 Execution and TA0005 Defense Evasion indicates that exploitation efforts may involve multiple attack phases including initial compromise, privilege escalation, and maintaining persistent access. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all systems remain protected against this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities that may exist in legacy software environments.