CVE-2011-2417 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 10.3.183.5 on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris and before 10.3.186.3 on Android, and Adobe AIR before 2.7.1 on Windows and Mac OS X and before 2.7.1.1961 on Android, allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-2135, CVE-2011-2140, and CVE-2011-2425.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2021
Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR versions prior to the specified patches contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability affects multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, and Android platforms, demonstrating the widespread nature of the flaw across different environments. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory structures during Flash Player processing, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents through crafted malicious content. The flaw specifically involves memory corruption issues that can be exploited to overwrite memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the context of the Flash Player process. This vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that differ from other related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2011-2135, CVE-2011-2140, and CVE-2011-2425, indicating it represents a distinct class of memory handling errors. The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes in memory. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where Flash content is frequently encountered through web browsers, email attachments, and web applications. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially allow full system compromise when attackers successfully exploit the memory corruption. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by delivering malicious Flash content through compromised websites, phishing emails, or malicious advertisements that trigger the vulnerable code paths. The vulnerability affects not only desktop operating systems but also mobile platforms including Android, highlighting the cross-platform nature of the threat. Organizations using affected versions of Flash Player and AIR are particularly vulnerable since these components are widely deployed across corporate networks and personal devices. The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script interpreters, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code within the Flash Player environment. Additionally, the memory corruption aspects of this vulnerability map to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through the exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. The patching process requires careful coordination across multiple platforms and versions, as different operating systems and mobile platforms require separate updates. Security teams must prioritize the remediation of these vulnerable components, particularly in environments where users frequently access untrusted web content or where Flash Player is integrated into critical business applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing multimedia frameworks and the importance of regular security updates for widely deployed software components.
The memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player and AIR represents a classic example of how complex multimedia frameworks can introduce security risks through memory management flaws. These issues typically arise from insufficient bounds checking during Flash content processing, particularly when handling malformed or crafted input data. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple platforms indicates that the underlying memory handling code contains fundamental flaws that are not easily isolated to specific operating system components. Attackers can leverage these memory corruption issues to either execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process or cause system instability through denial of service conditions. The specific nature of the vulnerability as a memory corruption issue places it squarely within the realm of advanced persistent threats that can be used for sophisticated attack campaigns. The fact that this vulnerability operates through unspecified vectors suggests that attackers can potentially trigger the memory corruption through various means, making it more difficult to defend against through traditional network filtering approaches. Organizations implementing security controls must consider the implications of this vulnerability across their entire attack surface, particularly in environments where Flash content is regularly accessed through web browsers or integrated into enterprise applications. The complexity of the Flash Player architecture means that patching efforts require careful testing to ensure that security updates do not disrupt existing functionality. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with industry standards that emphasize the need for robust memory management in software components that handle untrusted input data. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the risks associated with running outdated multimedia frameworks in enterprise environments. The widespread impact of this vulnerability across multiple platforms and operating systems underscores the need for comprehensive vulnerability management programs that address all components of the software stack. Security professionals must understand that exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, making it a critical priority for remediation in any security program.