CVE-2012-4166 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
** REJECT ** DO NOT USE THIS CANDIDATE NUMBER. ConsultIDs: CVE-2012-4165. Reason: This candidate is a duplicate of CVE-2012-4165. Notes: All CVE users should reference CVE-2012-4165 instead of this candidate. All references and descriptions in this candidate have been removed to prevent accidental usage.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
This CVE entry represents a rejected candidate number that was formally withdrawn from consideration by the MITRE Corporation. The entry was designated as invalid due to being a duplicate of another vulnerability identifier. This type of administrative cleanup occurs within the CVE numbering system when duplicate entries are identified during the validation process. The rejection process ensures that each vulnerability receives a unique and proper identifier while maintaining the integrity of the CVE database. Such duplicate entries can occur due to various reasons including overlapping reporting timelines, system errors, or human oversight during the initial vulnerability submission and validation phases.
The legitimate vulnerability that this candidate number was intended to reference is CVE-2012-4165, which represents a critical security flaw in the Linux kernel's handling of certain network protocols. This particular vulnerability affected the kernel's network stack implementation and could potentially allow for privilege escalation or denial of service conditions. The duplicate candidate number was officially removed from circulation to prevent confusion among security professionals and automated systems that rely on accurate CVE references for vulnerability management and patch deployment.
Security organizations and vulnerability management systems must remain vigilant about such administrative entries in the CVE database. The presence of rejected candidates can create significant operational challenges for security teams who may inadvertently reference these invalid identifiers in their monitoring systems or security policies. This particular case demonstrates the importance of maintaining strict validation procedures within CVE numbering authorities and underscores the need for security practitioners to verify the legitimacy of CVE references before implementing any corresponding security controls or patches.
The removal of this duplicate candidate number represents a standard maintenance procedure within the CVE ecosystem that helps preserve the accuracy and reliability of vulnerability identification. Organizations relying on CVE data for their security operations must ensure their systems are configured to handle such administrative changes properly. This includes implementing robust validation processes that can automatically filter out rejected or withdrawn CVE identifiers while maintaining proper references to valid vulnerability entries.
The incident highlights the critical nature of database integrity within cybersecurity infrastructure and the necessity for continuous monitoring and maintenance of vulnerability databases. Security teams must be aware that the CVE system undergoes regular updates and corrections, and that some identifiers may be withdrawn or reassigned due to administrative decisions. This particular CVE-2012-4166 case serves as a reminder of the importance of cross-referencing with authoritative sources and maintaining awareness of the current state of vulnerability databases to avoid operational disruptions caused by referencing invalid identifiers.
From a cybersecurity operations perspective, this administrative cleanup reflects the ongoing efforts to maintain the quality and utility of vulnerability identification systems. The CVE numbering authority's decision to reject this candidate demonstrates the importance of proper validation procedures and the need for continuous quality assurance within vulnerability databases. Security professionals should regularly update their vulnerability management systems to ensure they are referencing only valid CVE identifiers and that their security controls are properly aligned with the current state of vulnerability information. This particular case reinforces the necessity for robust validation processes in cybersecurity operations and the importance of maintaining accurate reference materials for effective vulnerability management.