CVE-2012-5264 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-2012-5264 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments that affected multiple operating systems and mobile platforms. This vulnerability exists in Flash Player versions prior to 10.3.183.29 for Windows and Mac OS X, 11.x versions before 11.4.402.287 for Windows and Mac OS X, 10.3.183.29 and 11.x versions before 11.2.202.243 for Linux, Android 2.x and 3.x versions before 11.1.111.19, and Android 4.x versions before 11.1.115.20, as well as Adobe AIR and AIR SDK versions before their respective patched releases. The flaw manifests in the way the software handles memory allocation and data processing within its multimedia framework, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system control.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within Flash Player's handling of multimedia content and data structures. When processing specially crafted Flash content, the application fails to validate input lengths and memory boundaries, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code. This particular vulnerability differs from other Flash Player buffer overflow issues documented in APSB12-22, indicating it operates through distinct code paths and exploitation mechanisms. The flaw specifically affects the runtime's ability to manage dynamic memory allocation when processing multimedia elements, particularly those involving complex data structures and embedded content that trigger memory corruption during execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5264 extends significantly across enterprise and consumer environments given Flash Player's widespread deployment across web browsers and desktop applications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that organizations must address the issue across Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and various Android versions, creating substantial remediation complexity. The vulnerability's exploitation typically occurs through drive-by downloads where users visit compromised websites containing malicious Flash content, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently access untrusted web content.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory software updates to patched versions of Flash Player and AIR runtime environments, along with network-based controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious Flash content. Organizations should also consider implementing browser security measures including disabling Flash plugin execution in web browsers and utilizing sandboxing technologies to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the mitre attack framework under techniques related to exploitation of remote services and privilege escalation, while also mapping to CWE-121 which describes buffer overflow conditions in heap-based memory management scenarios. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure complete remediation across all affected systems and platforms, with particular attention to legacy systems that may not receive regular updates.