CVE-2011-0571 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-2011-0561, CVE-2011-0572, CVE-2011-0573, CVE-2011-0574, CVE-2011-0578, CVE-2011-0607, and CVE-2011-0608.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
Adobe Flash Player version 10.2.152.26 and earlier contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from several other related vulnerabilities in the same timeframe, specifically excluding CVE-2011-0559 through CVE-2011-0608. The memory corruption issue stems from improper handling of certain data structures within the Flash Player runtime environment, creating potential exploitation paths that could allow attackers to overwrite memory locations and execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability operates at the core level of the Flash Player's memory management system, where buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions may occur during object handling, particularly when processing malformed multimedia content or embedded scripts. The attack surface is broad as Flash Player is widely deployed across multiple platforms and browsers, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where users frequently encounter Flash content in web applications, advertisements, and multimedia presentations. This flaw aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common in memory corruption exploits. From an operational perspective, the vulnerability can be exploited through various delivery mechanisms including malicious websites, phishing emails containing Flash content, or compromised web applications that embed vulnerable Flash objects. The attack typically begins with a user visiting a malicious website that hosts specially crafted Flash content designed to trigger the memory corruption. Once executed, the exploit can either cause a denial of service by crashing the Flash Player process or more critically, allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. The exploitation process often leverages techniques described in the attack tactics catalog, particularly those involving privilege escalation and code injection. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling Flash Player in web browsers, deploying network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems, and applying the vendor-supplied patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks of rich media players in enterprise environments and underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls. Security teams must also consider the broader implications of Flash Player vulnerabilities, as these often indicate deeper architectural issues in multimedia processing components that may affect other similar technologies. The specific nature of this vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive memory safety testing and code review processes, particularly for applications handling untrusted input data. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized Flash content, and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping multimedia and scripting components updated, as these often represent persistent attack vectors in enterprise security environments.