CVE-2012-2035 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Flash Player before 10.3.183.20 and 11.x before 11.3.300.257 on Windows and Mac OS X; before 10.3.183.20 and 11.x before 11.2.202.236 on Linux; before 11.1.111.10 on Android 2.x and 3.x; and before 11.1.115.9 on Android 4.x, and Adobe AIR before 3.3.0.3610, allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2035 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR across multiple operating systems and mobile platforms. This vulnerability resides in the core execution engine of Flash Player, specifically within the handling of certain data structures that are processed during multimedia content rendering. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate input data sizes before copying them into fixed-size stack buffers, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe Flash Player including 10.3.183.20 and earlier on Windows and Mac OS X, 10.3.183.20 and earlier on Linux, 11.2.202.236 and earlier on Android 2.x and 3.x, and 11.1.115.9 and earlier on Android 4.x, alongside Adobe AIR versions before 3.3.0.3610. The unspecified vectors through which exploitation occurs typically involve malformed multimedia content or malicious web pages that trigger the vulnerable code path during Flash Player execution.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite stack memory. This particular flaw operates by placing attacker-controlled data into a stack buffer that is smaller than the data being copied, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical stack variables. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because Flash Player is widely deployed across desktop and mobile platforms, making it an attractive target for exploit development. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the victim to view malicious content through a vulnerable Flash Player installation, typically via web browsers or standalone Flash applications, where the malicious code triggers the buffer overflow condition during normal content processing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2035 extends beyond simple code execution as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities through the use of return-oriented programming or direct code injection techniques. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, which typically runs with user-level permissions but can be escalated through additional attack vectors. The widespread deployment of Flash Player across different platforms and operating systems creates a significant attack surface that can be leveraged for various malicious activities including data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability's presence in mobile platforms such as Android 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x demonstrates the cross-platform nature of the threat, as mobile users are equally vulnerable to exploitation through malicious mobile web content or applications that utilize Flash Player components. This vulnerability has been classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as part of the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers leverage Flash Player's execution capabilities to establish persistent access and execute malicious payloads.
Organizations and users must implement immediate remediation measures to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability, including mandatory updates to Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR to the latest secure versions. The patching process should be prioritized across all affected platforms including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and various Android versions, as the vulnerability exists in multiple codebases and release versions. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, content filtering systems, and browser security policies that restrict Flash Player execution or block potentially malicious content. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect attempts to access known malicious Flash content, and endpoint security solutions should be configured to scan for vulnerable Flash Player installations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining updated security patches across all software components, as Adobe Flash Player's widespread use across multiple platforms makes it a prime target for zero-day exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for Flash Player execution and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle Flash-based exploit incidents, given the historical prevalence of Flash Player vulnerabilities in enterprise security breaches.