CVE-2011-2457 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based 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 CVE-2011-2457 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw discovered in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR software ecosystems. This vulnerability affects multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, and Android platforms, making it particularly dangerous due to its widespread impact across different computing environments. The vulnerability exists in Flash Player versions prior to 10.3.183.11 and 11.x before 11.1.102.55, while Adobe AIR was affected before version 3.1.0.4880, highlighting the extensive scope of the flaw across Adobe's multimedia platform.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow occurs within the stack memory management of the Flash Player runtime environment, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows that occur when data is written beyond the bounds of a stack-allocated buffer. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow by overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical stack variables, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2457 extends beyond typical security concerns due to Flash Player's ubiquitous presence in web browsers and desktop applications. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through various attack vectors including malicious web pages, infected documents, or compromised websites that leverage the Flash Player's multimedia capabilities. The vulnerability's exploitation capability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash Player remains active. Organizations relying on Flash content for business operations face significant risk as this vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2457 require immediate patch management and system hardening approaches. Organizations must prioritize updating Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR to their patched versions, specifically targeting 10.3.183.11 and 11.1.102.55 for Flash Player and 3.1.0.4880 for AIR. Additionally, implementing network-level controls such as web application firewalls, content filtering solutions, and browser security extensions can provide additional defense layers. Security teams should consider disabling Flash Player in browsers where it is not essential, implementing application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management programs to prevent exploitation of known security flaws.