CVE-2012-5248 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Adobe Flash Player before 10.3.183.29 and 11.x before 11.4.402.287 on Windows and Mac OS X, before 10.3.183.29 and 11.x before 11.2.202.243 on Linux, before 11.1.111.19 on Android 2.x and 3.x, and before 11.1.115.20 on Android 4.x; Adobe AIR before 3.4.0.2710; and Adobe AIR SDK before 3.4.0.2710 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than other Flash Player buffer overflow CVEs listed in APSB12-22.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR platforms that affected multiple operating systems and device architectures. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to specific patch releases across Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and various Android versions, indicating a widespread exposure across the Flash ecosystem. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems through unspecified attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise and consumer environments. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow (cwe-121) which occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it can hold, leading to memory corruption and potential code execution. This particular vulnerability differs from other Flash Player buffer overflow CVEs referenced in Adobe Security Bulletins, suggesting it represents a distinct code path or implementation flaw within the Flash Player runtime.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow presents significant operational risks for organizations relying on Flash content delivery. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized code execution privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise and persistent access. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that organizations must implement comprehensive patch management strategies across their entire infrastructure, including desktop systems, mobile devices, and potentially embedded systems that utilize Flash Player. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user machines to enterprise networks, as compromised systems can serve as entry points for lateral movement and broader network infiltration. Security researchers have categorized this as a high-severity issue due to the ease of exploitation and the potential for remote code execution without user interaction.
Organizations must prioritize immediate patch deployment across all affected systems to mitigate this vulnerability, as the attack surface includes not only traditional desktop environments but also mobile platforms running Android 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x versions. The patching process should follow established security protocols including testing in controlled environments before widespread deployment. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, as buffer overflow attacks often manifest as unusual network traffic patterns or system behavior. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict Flash Player execution to trusted environments only, while simultaneously preparing for potential incident response scenarios should exploitation occur. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and the risks associated with legacy software support, particularly in environments where Flash Player remains a critical component of business operations. Organizations should also review their content delivery strategies to reduce reliance on Flash-based technologies and transition toward more secure modern alternatives that align with current security standards and best practices.