CVE-2011-0561 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 10.2.152.26 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-0559, CVE-2011-0560, CVE-2011-0571, CVE-2011-0572, CVE-2011-0573, CVE-2011-0574, CVE-2011-0578, CVE-2011-0607, and CVE-2011-0608.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
Adobe Flash Player version 10.2.152.26 and earlier contains a memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat model from several other related vulnerabilities within the same year, indicating a broader class of memory management flaws within the Flash Player runtime environment. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple code paths within the Flash Player component could potentially trigger the memory corruption issue, making the vulnerability surface more difficult to predict and defend against. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption flaws that are commonly classified as CWE-125, which represents "Out-of-bounds Read" and related memory corruption issues. These types of vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, effectively allowing attackers to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to target machines. The attack typically involves crafting malicious Flash content that when loaded by an affected Flash Player version will trigger the memory corruption, leading to potential code execution or system instability. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain system access. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service as it can enable full system compromise when successfully exploited. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Flash Player face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users frequently access web content that may contain malicious Flash objects. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software components means that even a single compromised website could potentially affect numerous users across different platforms and operating systems. Security researchers have noted that such memory corruption vulnerabilities often require specific conditions to be met for exploitation, including proper memory layout and execution context. The fact that this vulnerability is separate from other CVEs from the same period indicates that Adobe Flash Player contained multiple distinct memory corruption issues that required individual patches. These types of vulnerabilities are particularly challenging for defenders because they often involve complex interactions between different components of the Flash Player runtime, making them difficult to detect through standard security scanning tools. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities typically requires advanced knowledge of memory management and exploitation techniques, making them more prevalent in targeted attacks rather than broad automated campaigns. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of this vulnerability to prevent potential exploitation by threat actors who may be actively targeting systems running vulnerable versions of Adobe Flash Player.
The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with rich media content execution environments and highlights the importance of keeping multimedia frameworks updated. Memory corruption issues in runtime environments like Flash Player often stem from inadequate bounds checking and improper memory management practices during object allocation and deallocation. These problems typically arise when developers fail to properly validate input data or when the runtime environment does not adequately protect against buffer overflows and other memory-related issues. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the broader category of exploits that target the fundamental execution environment of applications, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise security. Organizations implementing security controls should consider disabling Flash Player content entirely where possible, as the complexity and inherent risks of the Flash runtime environment make it a high-value target for attackers. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by the widespread use of Flash Player across various platforms and browsers, creating a large attack surface that can be leveraged by threat actors. Security teams should implement monitoring for suspicious Flash content delivery and consider network-level controls to block Flash content entirely, especially in high-security environments. The vulnerability's characteristics align with common exploitation patterns seen in zero-day attacks, where attackers leverage previously unknown memory corruption issues to gain unauthorized access to target systems. This particular vulnerability underscores the need for continuous security monitoring and rapid patch deployment processes, as the window between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation can be quite short. The presence of multiple related vulnerabilities in the same timeframe suggests that Adobe Flash Player contained systemic issues with its memory management and input validation mechanisms, requiring comprehensive remediation rather than isolated fixes.