CVE-2012-0752 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 10.3.183.15 and 11.x before 11.1.102.62 on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris; before 11.1.111.6 on Android 2.x and 3.x; and before 11.1.115.6 on Android 4.x allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via leveraging an unspecified "type confusion."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2021
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to specific patched releases contained a critical type confusion vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service conditions. This vulnerability affected multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris, as well as various Android versions. The flaw originated from improper handling of data types within the Flash Player runtime environment, creating conditions where the application could incorrectly interpret memory structures. Type confusion vulnerabilities represent a well-documented class of issues that fall under CWE-466, where a program attempts to use an object in a manner inconsistent with its actual type. The vulnerability specifically manifested when the Flash Player encountered malformed input that triggered memory corruption during object handling operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurred through carefully crafted malicious content that would cause the Flash Player to misinterpret object types in memory. Attackers could leverage this flaw by delivering malicious Flash content that would trigger the type confusion during runtime execution, ultimately leading to arbitrary code execution on the target system. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability meant that attackers could potentially overwrite critical memory locations, allowing them to execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the memory level and can bypass many traditional security controls. The exploitation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Windows Command Shell and T1059.006 for PowerShell, as attackers could use the compromised system to execute further malicious commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended across multiple platforms and device types, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment. Organizations running affected versions of Flash Player faced significant risk as the vulnerability could be exploited through web browsers, email attachments, or any other means that could deliver malicious Flash content. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability meant that security teams needed to address the issue across their entire IT infrastructure, including desktop systems, mobile devices, and server environments. The vulnerability's presence in both desktop and mobile operating systems created additional complexity in patch management and security monitoring. Network defenders needed to implement additional monitoring for suspicious Flash content and establish incident response procedures to handle potential exploitation attempts. The memory corruption aspect of the vulnerability could also result in system instability and denial of service conditions, making it a dual threat that could be used for both persistent attacks and disruptive operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of all affected Flash Player installations across all supported platforms. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all systems were updated promptly. Network security controls including web application firewalls and content filtering systems could help prevent delivery of malicious Flash content to end users. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should have been conducted to identify unpatched systems. The vulnerability's classification as a type confusion issue highlighted the importance of input validation and proper object type handling in software development. Security teams should have monitored exploit indicators and implemented behavioral analysis to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should have considered disabling Flash Player in environments where it was not essential, particularly in high-security networks. The incident underscored the need for regular security updates and the importance of maintaining current security patches across all software components in the enterprise environment.