CVE-2012-2038 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
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 bypass intended access restrictions and obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2021
Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR versions prior to specified patches contain a critical vulnerability that enables attackers to circumvent intended access controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. This vulnerability affects multiple platforms including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and various Android versions, demonstrating the widespread nature of the flaw across different operating systems and device types. The vulnerability resides in the core access restriction mechanisms of these Adobe products, allowing malicious actors to bypass security controls that should prevent unauthorized data access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves unspecified vectors that permit privilege escalation and unauthorized information disclosure. Attackers can exploit this flaw to obtain sensitive data that should normally be protected by the application's security model. The vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the access control implementation within Adobe's runtime environment, potentially allowing attackers to read files, access system resources, or extract confidential information from applications running within the Flash Player or AIR environment. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control flaws, specifically targeting improper access control mechanisms that should protect sensitive resources from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it affects widely deployed software across multiple platforms and operating systems. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Flash Player or AIR may experience data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential compromise of user privacy. The vulnerability's presence across different Android versions including 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x indicates it affects both legacy and contemporary mobile platforms, making the attack surface particularly broad. System administrators and security professionals must consider this vulnerability when assessing their organization's security posture, particularly in environments where legacy Flash content is still in use.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR installations across all supported platforms. Organizations should implement comprehensive inventory management to identify all systems running vulnerable versions and prioritize remediation efforts. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, particularly in environments where Flash content is still actively used. Security teams should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring for sensitive data access patterns, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to bypass traditional security measures. The remediation process should include verification of patch installation and confirmation that no vulnerable versions remain in the environment, as this vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges and access additional system resources beyond the initial information disclosure. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all software components, particularly those with broad deployment and access to sensitive system resources.