CVE-2010-4049 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera before 10.63 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a Flash movie with a transparent Window Mode (aka wmode) property, which is not properly handled during navigation away from the containing HTML document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-4049 represents a significant denial of service flaw affecting Opera web browsers prior to version 10.63. This issue specifically targets the browser's handling of Flash content with transparent window mode properties, creating a scenario where remote attackers can deliberately crash the application through carefully crafted malicious Flash movies. The vulnerability exploits a fundamental flaw in how Opera processes Flash objects during navigation events, particularly when dealing with the wmode parameter set to transparent. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper handling of input data, which aligns with CWE-248, indicating an exception handling weakness where the application fails to properly manage unexpected conditions during Flash content processing. The flaw demonstrates a critical gap in Opera's security model for handling multimedia content, particularly when that content interacts with browser navigation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious Flash movie with transparent window mode is embedded within an HTML document. When users navigate away from the page containing such Flash content, the browser fails to properly manage the cleanup process of the Flash object, leading to an application crash. This behavior stems from Opera's inadequate handling of the Flash player's lifecycle management during navigation events. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the wmode property is set to transparent, which changes how the Flash content interacts with the browser's rendering engine and window management systems. The improper handling occurs during the transition from one HTML document to another, where the browser attempts to destroy the Flash object but fails to properly release all associated resources, resulting in memory corruption or invalid memory access that ultimately causes the browser to terminate unexpectedly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it provides attackers with a reliable method to disrupt user browsing sessions and potentially cause broader service availability issues. Users who encounter such malicious content while browsing the web may experience unexpected browser crashes, forcing them to restart their browsers and potentially lose unsaved work or session data. This type of denial of service attack can be particularly problematic in environments where browser stability is critical, such as corporate settings or public access computers. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring local system access, making it a significant concern for web security. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a straightforward method for causing service disruption, which can be leveraged in larger attack campaigns or as part of broader exploitation strategies. The issue particularly affects the browser's user experience and can be used to create persistent disruptions for targeted users or entire user bases.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2010-4049 involves updating to Opera version 10.63 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly handle Flash content with transparent window mode properties during navigation events. This update addresses the core issue by implementing proper resource cleanup procedures and ensuring that Flash objects are correctly managed when users navigate away from pages containing such content. Organizations should prioritize this update as a critical security measure, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing browser security policies that restrict Flash content execution or configure browsers to disable Flash plugins entirely where possible. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and resource management in web browsers, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be maintained to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future, as this issue demonstrates how multimedia content handling can create security risks in web browsers.