CVE-2011-0578 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 related to a constructor for an unspecified ActionScript3 object and improper type checking, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-0559, CVE-2011-0560, CVE-2011-0561, CVE-2011-0571, CVE-2011-0572, CVE-2011-0573, CVE-2011-0574, 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 critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution through unspecified attack vectors involving ActionScript 3 object constructors and flawed type checking mechanisms. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat model from other Flash Player flaws of the same timeframe, specifically excluding CVE-2011-0559 through CVE-2011-0608, indicating a unique exploitation pathway within the Flash runtime environment. The flaw manifests when the Flash Player processes malformed ActionScript 3 objects during constructor execution, where improper type validation allows attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted malicious content. This memory corruption vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and type verification during object instantiation, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite memory locations or manipulate execution flow. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of software security principles and runtime integrity, where ActionScript 3's dynamic typing system fails to properly validate object construction parameters. Attackers can leverage this weakness by embedding malicious Flash content in web pages or malicious files, triggering the vulnerable code path when users view the content through an affected Flash Player version. The memory corruption can manifest as stack overflows, heap corruption, or arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation technique employed. This vulnerability directly relates to common weakness enumerations such as CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, as well as CWE-787, out-of-bounds write, which are fundamental memory safety issues in software development. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on Flash Player for web content delivery, as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting compromised websites. The exploitation model aligns with attack techniques categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's execution and privilege escalation domains, particularly leveraging the 'Exploitation for Client Execution' tactic. Organizations utilizing older Flash Player versions face elevated risk due to the lack of modern memory protection mechanisms such as DEP, ASLR, and stack canaries that were increasingly implemented in later versions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential denial of service scenarios where memory corruption leads to application crashes or system instability. Security researchers have identified that this flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through legitimate Flash content parsing, making it difficult to distinguish between benign and malicious payloads. The specific nature of the vulnerability suggests that Adobe's type checking implementation in ActionScript 3 runtime lacks sufficient validation during object construction phases, allowing attackers to manipulate the runtime's internal state through carefully crafted inputs. This represents a fundamental flaw in Adobe's runtime security model where dynamic type checking fails to prevent potentially malicious object instantiation sequences. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the realm of advanced persistent threats where attackers can leverage the memory manipulation capabilities to establish persistent access or escalate privileges. Modern exploitation techniques often combine multiple memory corruption vulnerabilities to achieve more sophisticated attack outcomes, making this particular flaw a potential stepping stone for more complex attacks. The affected Flash Player versions represent a critical security gap where users have limited protection against sophisticated adversaries who can craft targeted exploits against the specific memory handling patterns described in the vulnerability. Organizations should consider immediate remediation strategies including mandatory Flash Player updates, content filtering, and network-based protection mechanisms to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a systemic issue in Flash Player's runtime security architecture that required significant architectural changes to address in subsequent releases. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, particularly focusing on web traffic patterns that might reveal attempts to exploit the memory corruption through crafted Flash content. The flaw demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in runtime environments where dynamic code execution occurs, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing of scripting environments and their underlying memory management systems. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the inherent risks associated with rich media runtime environments and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for client-side applications that process untrusted content from the internet.