CVE-2012-5251 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-2012-5251 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR platforms across multiple operating systems and mobile environments. This vulnerability affects Flash Player versions prior to 10.3.183.29 and 11.x versions before 11.4.402.287 on Windows and Mac OS X systems, with specific version thresholds for Linux, Android 2.x and 3.x, and Android 4.x environments. The corresponding Adobe AIR versions affected include those before 3.4.0.2710 and Adobe AIR SDK versions before 3.4.0.2710, making this a widespread issue impacting multiple platform ecosystems. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability occurs through unspecified attack vectors that differ from other Flash Player buffer overflow vulnerabilities documented in the Adobe Security Bulletins. This distinction indicates that attackers can leverage memory corruption techniques to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the Flash Player application. The flaw manifests when the Flash Player processes certain malformed data structures, leading to memory corruption that can be manipulated to overwrite critical program execution elements such as return addresses or function pointers. The cross-platform nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can potentially exploit the same flaw across Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and various Android versions, significantly expanding the attack surface and making mitigation efforts more complex.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5251 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure and user safety. Organizations relying on Flash Player for web content delivery face potential compromise of entire systems when users visit malicious websites or open infected files. The vulnerability's presence in mobile environments including Android 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x versions creates additional risk for mobile device users and enterprise mobile device management programs. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass traditional security controls, execute malicious payloads, and potentially establish persistent access to compromised systems. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the widespread deployment of Flash Player across various platforms, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threats and zero-day exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5251 require immediate patch deployment across all affected platforms and versions, with particular attention to the specific version thresholds mentioned in the vulnerability description. Security administrators should implement comprehensive patch management programs that prioritize the remediation of Flash Player and Adobe AIR components across all supported operating systems. Organizations should consider implementing network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent access to potentially malicious Flash content. The implementation of Adobe's recommended security measures including disabling Flash Player in browsers, using sandboxing technologies, and deploying intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense layers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and execution through malicious content, requiring organizations to establish robust incident response procedures and security monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts.