CVE-2013-0646 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Adobe Flash Player before 10.3.183.68 and 11.x before 11.6.602.180 on Windows and Mac OS X, before 10.3.183.68 and 11.x before 11.2.202.275 on Linux, before 11.1.111.44 on Android 2.x and 3.x, and before 11.1.115.48 on Android 4.x; Adobe AIR before 3.6.0.6090; Adobe AIR SDK before 3.6.0.6090; and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 3.6.0.6090 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0646 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments across multiple platforms and operating systems. This vulnerability affects various versions of Adobe Flash Player including those before 10.3.183.68 and 11.x before 11.6.602.180 on Windows and Mac OS X, before 10.3.183.68 and 11.x before 11.2.202.275 on Linux, before 11.1.111.44 on Android 2.x and 3.x, and before 11.1.115.48 on Android 4.x. Additionally, Adobe AIR versions before 3.6.0.6090 and corresponding SDK versions are also impacted by this flaw. The integer overflow condition occurs when the software processes certain data structures that exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the integer data type, leading to unexpected behavior and potential code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic operations within the Flash Player and AIR runtime components. When processing maliciously crafted data, the integer overflow can cause memory corruption that attackers can exploit to gain control over the affected system. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the integer variables in such a way that they can bypass security mechanisms and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web-based attacks where users visit compromised websites or open malicious files containing specially crafted Flash content.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations and individual users who rely on Flash Player for web content delivery and multimedia applications. The attack surface is extensive given that Flash Player was widely deployed across multiple platforms and operating systems, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to compromise user systems. The vulnerability can be exploited through drive-by downloads, malicious websites, or compromised web applications that embed malicious Flash content. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive information, or establish persistent backdoors on affected systems.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0646 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR installations with the vendor-provided security updates. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems are updated promptly. Additionally, security administrators should consider implementing network-level controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block potentially malicious Flash content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which describes integer overflow conditions, and represents a significant concern in the context of the ATT&CK framework under the initial access and execution phases where attackers establish footholds and execute malicious code within target environments. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and restricting Flash Player execution in browser environments to reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from exploitation attempts.