CVE-2012-5250 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5250 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments that affected multiple operating systems and platforms. This vulnerability specifically impacted Flash Player versions prior to 10.3.183.29 and 11.x versions before 11.4.402.287 on Windows and Mac OS X, while Linux systems were affected by versions before 10.3.183.29 and 11.x before 11.2.202.243, Android devices were vulnerable before 11.1.111.19 on Android 2.x and 3.x, and before 11.1.115.20 on Android 4.x, with Adobe AIR being affected before version 3.4.0.2710 and Adobe AIR SDK before 3.4.0.2710. The flaw falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within Flash Player's handling of multimedia content and embedded objects. Attackers could exploit this flaw by crafting malicious Flash content that would trigger the buffer overflow when processed by the vulnerable runtime environment. The overflow could overwrite critical memory segments including return addresses, function pointers, or other control structures, enabling attackers to redirect program execution flow. This type of vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Flash Player process.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5250 was significant given Flash Player's widespread deployment across web browsers and desktop applications. The vulnerability created a persistent attack surface that could be exploited through web-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments and individual users who regularly visited websites with embedded Flash content. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability meant that organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management strategies across multiple operating systems and device types, while the Android-specific versions highlighted the growing security concerns around mobile Flash implementations. Security researchers noted that this vulnerability was distinct from other Flash Player buffer overflows referenced in Adobe's security bulletin APSB12-22, indicating a unique exploitation vector that required specific remediation approaches.
Organizations addressing this vulnerability needed to implement immediate patching strategies for all affected versions of Flash Player and Adobe AIR across all supported platforms. The remediation process required careful coordination between IT departments and security teams to ensure comprehensive coverage of all vulnerable systems without disrupting legitimate business operations. Additional mitigations included browser-level restrictions, network-based protections, and user education initiatives to reduce exposure while patches were deployed. The vulnerability underscored the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and highlighted the risks associated with legacy Flash content in enterprise environments. Security professionals recommended implementing layered defenses including network segmentation, web application firewalls, and monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and provide additional protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.