CVE-2014-0503 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 11.7.700.272 and 11.8.x through 12.0.x before 12.0.0.77 on Windows and OS X, and before 11.2.202.346 on Linux, allows remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 11.7.700.272 on Windows and OS X, 11.8.x through 12.0.x prior to 12.0.0.77 on Windows and OS X, and 11.2.202.346 on Linux contained a critical security vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy mechanism. This fundamental web security principle prevents scripts from one origin from accessing resources from another origin, thereby maintaining isolation between different web domains. The vulnerability stemmed from improper implementation of security controls within the Flash Player runtime environment, allowing malicious actors to execute cross-origin requests that should have been restricted by the browser's security model. The unspecified vectors referenced in the description indicate that the flaw could be exploited through multiple attack paths, potentially involving manipulation of Flash Player's networking components or memory management routines. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and represents a significant weakness in the security architecture of Adobe's multimedia platform. The impact of this bypass allows attackers to perform actions such as reading sensitive data from other origins, executing unauthorized cross-domain requests, and potentially accessing protected resources that should remain isolated. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to data theft, session hijacking, and other malicious activities that compromise user privacy and system integrity. Organizations running affected versions of Flash Player faced substantial risk as this flaw could be leveraged in drive-by download attacks, where users visiting compromised websites could have their browsers' security policies circumvented without their knowledge. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of scripting languages to execute malicious code, and T1566, which covers the delivery of malware through spearphishing attachments or compromised websites. The affected platforms included multiple operating systems, making the attack surface particularly broad and increasing the potential for widespread exploitation. The security implications extended beyond simple policy bypass, as this weakness could enable attackers to construct more sophisticated attacks that leverage other vulnerabilities in the browser ecosystem. The Flash Player's handling of cross-domain policy files and its interaction with JavaScript and browser security models created multiple potential attack vectors. This vulnerability highlighted the inherent risks associated with rich internet applications and the complex security implications of multimedia frameworks that operate with elevated privileges. The remediation required immediate patching of affected Flash Player versions, as the vulnerability could be exploited remotely without user interaction. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management procedures and consider disabling Flash Player where possible, given its history of security issues. The vulnerability demonstrated the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls in multimedia frameworks and highlighted the need for more robust security models in rich client applications. This issue contributed to the broader industry trend of moving away from Flash-based technologies toward more secure web standards, as the security risks associated with such platforms became increasingly apparent. The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in significant data breaches and compromise of user credentials, making it a high-priority security concern for enterprises and individual users alike.