CVE-2012-0755 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 bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-0756.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2021
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to specific patched releases contained a critical access restriction bypass vulnerability that enabled attackers to circumvent intended security controls within the multimedia framework. This vulnerability affected multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris platforms, as well as various Android versions across different release series. The flaw represented a distinct security weakness separate from CVE-2012-0756, indicating that attackers could exploit different vectors to achieve unauthorized access to restricted resources within the Flash runtime environment. The vulnerability specifically targeted the permission model and access control mechanisms that Flash Player implemented to protect system resources and user data from malicious code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stemmed from insufficient validation of access controls within Flash Player's security architecture, allowing malicious SWF files to bypass intended restrictions on file system access, network operations, and system resource utilization. Attackers could leverage this weakness to execute unauthorized operations that should have been blocked by the player's security sandbox. The unspecified vectors of exploitation suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through multiple attack surfaces within the Flash Player runtime, potentially including malformed SWF content, improper handling of cross-domain policies, or flaws in the security model implementation. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and represents a significant weakening of the security boundaries that Flash Player was designed to maintain.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was substantial as it provided attackers with elevated privileges within the Flash Player environment, potentially enabling them to access sensitive user data, execute arbitrary code on affected systems, or perform unauthorized network operations. Systems running vulnerable Flash Player versions became susceptible to attacks that could compromise user privacy and system integrity. The widespread deployment of Flash Player across multiple platforms meant that this vulnerability affected a large user base, increasing the potential attack surface and making it a high-priority target for threat actors. Organizations and individuals using affected versions faced significant security risks, particularly in environments where Flash Player was frequently used to execute untrusted content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate deployment of patched Flash Player versions from Adobe, which addressed the access restriction bypass mechanisms through improved validation and enforcement of security controls. System administrators needed to ensure that all affected platforms received updates promptly, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, and Android devices running vulnerable versions. The remediation process involved not only updating the Flash Player runtime but also implementing additional security measures such as disabling Flash content in web browsers, using sandboxing technologies, and monitoring for suspicious Flash-related activities. Organizations should have implemented network-based controls to detect and block potentially malicious Flash content, while also considering the long-term strategy of phasing out Flash Player support given its history of security vulnerabilities and the industry's move toward HTML5 and other modern web standards. This vulnerability demonstrated the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and the risks associated with legacy software components that continue to receive limited security support.