CVE-2011-2430 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 10.3.183.10 on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris, and before 10.3.186.7 on Android, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted streaming media, related to a "logic error vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2021
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 10.3.183.10 on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris, and before 10.3.186.7 on Android contained a critical logic error vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through crafted streaming media content. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of media stream parsing logic within the Flash Player runtime environment, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The flaw specifically manifested when the player encountered malformed or specially crafted streaming media files that triggered unexpected behavior in the underlying media processing pipeline, allowing attackers to bypass normal security boundaries and execute malicious payloads with the privileges of the Flash Player process.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-254, which addresses security weaknesses related to inadequate input validation and improper error handling in software systems. The logic error occurred during the processing of streaming media data where the Flash Player failed to properly validate the structure and content of incoming media streams before attempting to parse and render them. This insufficient validation allowed attackers to craft media files that would cause the player to execute code in unintended ways, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it exploited the legitimate functionality of the Flash Player's media streaming capabilities while introducing malicious behavior through carefully constructed input data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presented significant risk to organizations relying on Flash Player for multimedia content delivery, as it could be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web applications. The impact extended beyond individual user systems to potentially affect entire network infrastructures, as successful exploitation could lead to persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network environments. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability was particularly challenging to detect and mitigate due to its reliance on legitimate streaming media functionality, making it difficult for traditional network monitoring tools to distinguish between benign and malicious content without deep packet inspection capabilities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should have implemented immediate patch management procedures to upgrade to Adobe Flash Player versions 10.3.183.10 or later for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris platforms, and version 10.3.186.7 or later for Android devices. Additional mitigations included implementing network-based controls such as web application firewalls, content filtering solutions, and disabling Flash Player plugins in web browsers where possible. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as the issue was classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through legitimate software interfaces. This vulnerability ultimately contributed to the broader industry trend toward deprecating Flash Player technology and transitioning to more secure web standards such as HTML5 and WebAssembly for multimedia content delivery.