CVE-2012-2036 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Integer 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 • 12/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2036 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR across multiple platforms and operating systems. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to specific patch releases including Flash Player 10.3.183.20 and 11.x versions before 11.3.300.257 for windows and mac os x, Flash Player 10.3.183.20 and 11.x versions before 11.2.202.236 for linux, Flash Player versions before 11.1.111.10 for android 2.x and 3.x, and Flash Player versions before 11.1.115.9 for android 4.x, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 3.3.0.3610. The integer overflow condition creates a scenario where attackers can manipulate data structures to cause unexpected behavior that leads to arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of software defects that can be exploited to gain unauthorized control over affected systems.
The technical flaw manifests as an integer overflow condition that occurs when the Flash Player processes certain data inputs that exceed the maximum value that can be represented by a signed integer. When such overflow occurs, it can result in memory corruption that allows attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through various attack vectors including malicious web content, specially crafted files, or other methods that cause the Flash Player to process malformed data. The integer overflow creates a condition where the application's memory management becomes compromised, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate program pointers to redirect execution to malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and affects a broad range of users and systems. Organizations with extensive Flash Player deployments across windows mac os x and linux environments face significant risk of compromise, particularly those with outdated systems that have not received security updates. The vulnerability's presence across multiple platforms including mobile operating systems like android 2.x 3.x and 4.x demonstrates the widespread nature of the flaw. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code on targeted systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of additional malware. The fact that the vulnerability affects both desktop and mobile platforms increases the attack surface and makes it particularly challenging to defend against comprehensively.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2036 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR installations across all supported platforms. System administrators should implement comprehensive inventory management to identify all instances of vulnerable software and ensure timely updates are deployed. Organizations should consider disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, particularly in environments where Flash is not essential for business operations. Network security controls including web application firewalls and content filtering systems should be configured to block access to potentially malicious Flash content. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework where integer overflows represent common exploitation techniques that can lead to privilege escalation and persistent access. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual network traffic patterns and system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and maintaining updated antivirus signatures can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation of this vulnerability.
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions and represents one of the most common classes of software defects that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability align with the attack technique T1059 in the MITRE ATT&CK framework where adversaries use command and control channels to execute malicious code. The widespread impact across multiple operating systems and architectures demonstrates the importance of maintaining comprehensive patch management processes and the need for continuous security monitoring to detect and respond to exploitation attempts.