CVE-2013-1368 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-0642, CVE-2013-0645, CVE-2013-1365, CVE-2013-1366, CVE-2013-1367, CVE-2013-1369, CVE-2013-1370, CVE-2013-1372, and CVE-2013-1373.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2021
Adobe Flash Player suffered from a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that affected multiple operating systems and versions prior to specific patch releases. This vulnerability existed in the way Flash Player handled certain data structures during processing, creating a condition where attacker-controlled input could overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw was particularly dangerous because it allowed remote code execution without user interaction, making it a prime target for exploit development. The vulnerability impacted Windows systems before 10.3.183.63 and 11.x before 11.6.602.168, Mac OS X 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, and various Android versions with corresponding patch thresholds. The vulnerability was distinct from several other reported issues in the same timeframe, indicating a separate code path that was not addressed by previous patches.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow stems from improper bounds checking within Flash Player's handling of multimedia content and data structures. When processing maliciously crafted flash content, the player would attempt to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting critical program memory including return addresses and function pointers. This memory corruption could be leveraged to redirect execution flow to attacker-controlled code, enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability was classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though the specific implementation details suggested it could also involve heap-based exploitation techniques. The attack vector typically involved embedding malicious flash content in web pages or email attachments that would be automatically executed when viewed in vulnerable browsers or applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe across multiple platforms and deployment scenarios. Organizations relying on Flash Player for web content delivery faced significant risk of unauthorized access and system compromise, particularly in environments where users had elevated privileges or where Flash was frequently used for business-critical applications. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability meant that defenders needed to maintain patch compliance across Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile operating systems simultaneously. Security teams reported numerous exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability in the wild, with attackers leveraging it for initial access into networks and as a foundation for more sophisticated attack chains. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR and AIR SDK components extended the attack surface to desktop applications and development environments, creating additional vectors for compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of all affected Flash Player installations across supported platforms, with particular attention to the specific version thresholds mentioned in the CVE description. Organizations should have implemented network-based controls such as content filtering and web application firewalls to block known malicious flash content while maintaining patch management processes for rapid deployment. Browser vendors were advised to disable Flash Player plugins or implement sandboxing measures to limit potential impact even if users were running unpatched versions. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as it demonstrated how a single unpatched component could provide attackers with persistent access to entire systems. Additionally, security awareness training for users regarding the dangers of visiting untrusted websites or opening suspicious email attachments became crucial in mitigating the risk of exploitation. The incident underscored the need for regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs to identify and remediate similar issues before they could be exploited in real-world scenarios.