CVE-2012-5285 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 • 12/29/2024
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 10.3.183.29 on Windows and Mac OS X, 10.3.183.29 on Linux, 11.1.111.19 on Android 2.x and 3.x, and 11.1.115.20 on Android 4.x contained a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability existed within the multimedia framework's handling of malformed data structures and was distinct from other Flash Player buffer overflow vulnerabilities documented in the Adobe Security Bulletins. The flaw allowed attackers to manipulate memory allocation during processing of specially crafted multimedia content, leading to potential arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow conditions. These classifications indicate that the vulnerability could be exploited through both stack and heap memory corruption mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous for exploitation. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because Flash Player was widely deployed across multiple operating systems and platforms, including desktop and mobile environments, creating an extensive attack surface. The exploitability of this vulnerability was enhanced by the fact that Flash Player was often enabled by default in web browsers, requiring minimal user interaction to trigger the malicious code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe and widespread across enterprise and consumer environments. Organizations that had not updated their Flash Player installations were exposed to potential compromise through web-based attacks, as attackers could craft malicious web pages that would automatically execute the exploit when viewed in vulnerable browsers. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR applications and SDKs further extended the attack surface to desktop applications and development environments. This made it particularly attractive to threat actors who could leverage the widespread adoption of Flash Player to deliver malware, conduct phishing attacks, or establish persistent access to target systems.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability required immediate patching of all affected Flash Player versions across all supported platforms. Organizations should have implemented network-based protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to block known malicious Flash content. Browser vendors were advised to disable Flash Player by default or implement additional sandboxing measures to limit the potential impact of exploitation. System administrators should have monitored for exploitation attempts through network logs and endpoint detection systems, while also implementing strict update policies to ensure all Flash Player installations were current. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and demonstrated how widespread adoption of multimedia frameworks could create significant security risks when vulnerabilities were discovered. This vulnerability was ultimately addressed through Adobe's regular security updates and patch management processes, but served as a critical reminder of the security challenges associated with rich media frameworks in enterprise environments. The incident contributed to the broader industry shift away from Flash Player toward more secure web technologies and influenced security policies around third-party software deployment and maintenance.