CVE-2013-0647 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 10.3.183.63 and 11.x before 11.6.602.168 on Windows, before 10.3.183.61 and 11.x before 11.6.602.167 on Mac OS X, before 10.3.183.61 and 11.x before 11.2.202.270 on Linux, before 11.1.111.43 on Android 2.x and 3.x, and before 11.1.115.47 on Android 4.x; Adobe AIR before 3.6.0.597; and Adobe AIR SDK before 3.6.0.599 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-0638.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2021
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to specific patched releases across multiple operating systems contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability affected Windows systems running Flash Player versions before 10.3.183.63 and 11.x before 11.6.602.168, Mac OS X systems before 10.3.183.61 and 11.x before 11.6.602.167, Linux systems before 10.3.183.61 and 11.x before 11.2.202.270, Android 2.x and 3.x systems before 11.1.111.43, and Android 4.x systems before 11.1.115.47. The vulnerability also impacted Adobe AIR versions before 3.6.0.597 and Adobe AIR SDK versions before 3.6.0.599, representing a significant attack surface across multiple platforms and deployment scenarios. This memory corruption flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that could be exploited through malformed Flash content delivered via web browsers or other Flash-enabled applications, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution. The attack vector typically involved crafting malicious SWF files or manipulating existing content to trigger the memory corruption during Flash Player processing, potentially leading to complete system compromise through privilege escalation or lateral movement. Organizations deploying Flash Player across enterprise environments faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be exploited through web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting compromised websites. The impact extended beyond individual system compromise to include potential data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms, and further network infiltration. Mitigation strategies included immediate patching of all affected Flash Player installations, implementation of browser security controls such as disabling Flash content, network segmentation, and monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns. Security professionals noted that this vulnerability highlighted the inherent risks of rich media content processing in web browsers and underscored the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all software components. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple operating systems and versions demonstrated the widespread nature of Flash Player's deployment in enterprise environments, making comprehensive patch management essential for maintaining security posture. Organizations that failed to apply these patches faced continued exposure to sophisticated attacks targeting the Flash Player runtime environment, with potential for cascading effects throughout network infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue also indicated the potential for both remote code execution and denial of service conditions, making it a critical priority for security operations teams to address through coordinated remediation efforts.