CVE-2012-5255 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-2012-5255 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 targets versions of Flash Player prior to 10.3.183.29 and 11.x before 11.4.402.287 on Windows and Mac OS X, with corresponding affected versions on Linux, Android, and Adobe AIR. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on compromised systems through unspecified attack vectors that differ from other Flash Player buffer overflow vulnerabilities documented in Adobe's Advisory APSB12-22. This distinction is significant as it indicates a unique exploitation pathway that required specific mitigation strategies beyond standard Flash Player patching procedures.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Flash Player runtime environment, particularly when processing certain multimedia content or SWF files. When the vulnerable software encounters malformed input data, it fails to properly validate buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical program execution structures. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checks allow attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves crafting malicious SWF content that triggers the buffer overflow during normal Flash Player execution, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5255 extends across multiple platforms and deployment scenarios, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments and mobile device users. Windows and Mac OS X users were vulnerable to attacks targeting the older Flash Player versions, while Linux systems required patching to address the same underlying buffer overflow issue. Mobile platforms including Android 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x presented additional attack surfaces where the vulnerability could be exploited through Flash content delivered via web browsers or applications. Adobe AIR users faced similar risks as the vulnerability extended to the AIR runtime environment, affecting both desktop and mobile AIR applications. The widespread nature of Flash Player deployment across web browsers and applications meant that successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Organizations and users should implement immediate remediation measures including applying patches released by Adobe to address this vulnerability, as well as implementing additional security controls to mitigate potential exploitation attempts. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating all affected Flash Player installations to versions 10.3.183.29 or later for 10.x releases, and 11.4.402.287 or later for 11.x releases on Windows and Mac OS X platforms. For Linux systems, the corresponding patches should be applied to versions before 10.3.183.29 and 11.x before 11.2.202.243. Mobile device users should update to Adobe AIR versions 3.4.0.2710 or later, while Android users should upgrade to versions 11.1.111.19 for 2.x and 3.x systems, and 11.1.115.20 for 4.x systems. Security professionals should also consider implementing network-based controls such as content filtering, web application firewalls, and runtime application protection measures to detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for command and script interpreter, as exploitation typically involves executing malicious code through compromised Flash Player runtime environments, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams implementing comprehensive threat detection strategies.