CVE-2011-2456 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Adobe Flash Player before 10.3.183.11 and 11.x before 11.1.102.55 on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris and before 11.1.102.59 on Android, and Adobe AIR before 3.1.0.4880, allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2456 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR software ecosystems. This security weakness affects multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, and Android platforms, demonstrating the widespread impact of the vulnerability across different computing environments. The flaw specifically impacts Flash Player versions prior to 10.3.183.11 and 11.x versions before 11.1.102.55 on desktop operating systems, while Android systems require versions prior to 11.1.102.59 to remain vulnerable. Additionally, Adobe AIR versions before 3.1.0.4880 are also susceptible to this buffer overflow condition, indicating the vulnerability extends beyond the core Flash Player functionality into the broader Adobe runtime environment.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Flash Player execution environment. When processing maliciously crafted content, the software fails to properly validate input boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by attackers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions, specifically representing a classic stack-based buffer overflow where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that the attack surface encompasses multiple code paths within the Flash Player runtime, making the exploitation more versatile and difficult to predict. The vulnerability operates at the memory management level where the application's heap or stack structures become corrupted through excessive data input, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical execution metadata.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2456 extends beyond simple code execution privileges, as it enables attackers to gain complete control over affected systems. This capability represents a severe threat to enterprise environments where Flash Player remains widely deployed for multimedia content, web applications, and rich internet applications. The vulnerability's presence in both desktop and mobile platforms creates multiple attack vectors for threat actors, potentially enabling them to compromise user devices through web-based attacks, malicious websites, or compromised web applications. The widespread deployment of Flash Player across different operating systems and device types amplifies the potential impact, as organizations cannot simply patch one platform to resolve the issue. Security professionals must consider the implications of this vulnerability within the broader attack surface, particularly when evaluating the effectiveness of traditional security controls that may not adequately protect against memory corruption exploits.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with immediate deployment of patched versions of Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR software. The remediation process must account for the multiple affected platforms and version ranges, ensuring that all endpoints receive appropriate updates. Security teams should consider implementing network-based protections including web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block access to known malicious Flash content. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework category T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter provides guidance for defensive measures, as attackers leveraging this vulnerability would likely attempt to execute malicious code through scripting interfaces. Additional mitigations include disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify systems that may still be running vulnerable versions. The remediation timeline should prioritize critical systems and those with high exposure to external threats, as the vulnerability's exploitability and potential for remote code execution make it a high-priority security concern requiring immediate attention and comprehensive deployment across all affected environments.