CVE-2011-0625 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 10.3.181.14 on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris and before 10.3.185.21 on Android allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, related to a "bounds checking" issue, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-0623, CVE-2011-0624, and CVE-2011-0626.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2021
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 10.3.181.14 on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris platforms, and before 10.3.185.21 on Android devices contained a critical bounds checking vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability specifically affected the player's handling of memory boundaries during object manipulation and data processing operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass security restrictions and execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw represented a distinct issue from related vulnerabilities CVE-2011-0623, CVE-2011-0624, and CVE-2011-0626, each addressing different aspects of the Flash Player's security architecture. The bounds checking issue occurred when the player failed to properly validate memory access boundaries during processing of malformed or crafted input data, leading to potential buffer overflow conditions that could be exploited to overwrite critical memory regions. This vulnerability fell under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information disclosure, privilege escalation, and arbitrary code execution. The attack vector typically involved embedding malicious Flash content within web pages or email attachments that would be executed when users viewed the content through vulnerable Flash Player installations. Security researchers identified that exploitation required minimal user interaction, as simply viewing a malicious webpage containing the crafted Flash content could trigger the vulnerability. The impact extended across multiple operating systems and platforms, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with diverse computing environments. The vulnerability was particularly concerning due to Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise networks and consumer devices, creating a broad attack surface. Organizations implementing network-based defenses faced challenges in detecting exploitation attempts, as the malicious activity often appeared as legitimate Flash content processing. The vulnerability also aligned with several tactics described in the ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access through malicious web content and privilege escalation via code execution. The bounds checking failure created a condition where attackers could manipulate memory pointers and execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This made the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to target systems. The lack of proper input validation in the Flash Player's memory management routines allowed attackers to craft specific payloads that would cause the player to read or write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The vulnerability was classified as a critical security risk by multiple security vendors and was actively exploited in the wild during the period when affected versions were prevalent. The exploitation typically required no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it a significant concern for both individual users and enterprise security teams. Security patches released by Adobe addressed the memory boundary checking issues in the Flash Player's core processing engines, requiring users to upgrade to patched versions to eliminate the risk. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing comprehensive patch management procedures to protect against known security flaws. Organizations that failed to apply the security updates remained exposed to potential exploitation, as the vulnerability could be leveraged to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish backdoors on compromised systems. The incident underscored the need for robust application sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in rich internet application platforms. This vulnerability demonstrated how legacy software components could maintain significant security risks long after their initial release, particularly in environments where software updates were delayed or not properly managed.
The technical nature of the vulnerability involved the Flash Player's ActionScript virtual machine and its handling of dynamic memory allocation during object instantiation and data processing. When the player encountered malformed data structures, the improper bounds checking allowed attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially overwrite critical function pointers or return addresses. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it occurred in the player's core processing logic rather than in peripheral components, making it more difficult to isolate and protect against. The issue was classified as a memory safety vulnerability that could be exploited through various input vectors including SWF file content, embedded multimedia elements, and dynamic data loading operations. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability could be chained with other exploits to create more sophisticated attack scenarios. The patch implementation required modifications to the Flash Player's memory management subsystem to enforce proper bounds checking on all memory access operations. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive monitoring and alerting systems to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could be used in conjunction with other attack vectors to achieve persistent system compromise. The vulnerability also highlighted the risks associated with rich media content processing and the need for more rigorous security testing of multimedia applications. This case study became a reference point for understanding how seemingly minor memory management issues could result in critical security vulnerabilities in widely deployed software components. The incident emphasized the importance of continuous security assessment and the need for security teams to maintain awareness of vulnerabilities in third-party applications that could affect their network security posture.