CVE-2014-0549 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.244 and 14.x and 15.x before 15.0.0.152 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.406 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 15.0.0.249 on Windows and OS X and before 15.0.0.252 on Android, Adobe AIR SDK before 15.0.0.249, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 15.0.0.249 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-0547, CVE-2014-0550, CVE-2014-0551, CVE-2014-0552, and CVE-2014-0555.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2022
Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR products contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution attacks on affected systems. This vulnerability exists in multiple product versions across different operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux platforms. The flaw manifests as an unspecified vector that can be exploited by attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges or cause denial of service conditions through memory corruption techniques. The vulnerability affects Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.244 and 14.x and 15.x before 15.0.0.152 on Windows and OS X platforms, while Linux versions are impacted before 11.2.202.406. Additionally, Adobe AIR versions prior to 15.0.0.249 on Windows and OS X platforms, and before 15.0.0.252 on Android, are vulnerable to this same memory corruption issue. The Adobe AIR SDK and Compiler versions before 15.0.0.249 also contain this critical flaw, making them susceptible to similar exploitation techniques. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat from related CVEs including CVE-2014-0547, CVE-2014-0550, CVE-2014-0551, CVE-2014-0552, and CVE-2014-0555, indicating that attackers can leverage different exploitation methods to achieve the same memory corruption outcomes. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which describes weaknesses in memory management and improper handling of memory access violations. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to enterprise environments where Flash Player remains actively deployed, as it can be exploited through web browsers or other Flash-enabled applications to execute malicious code on target systems. The attack surface is particularly broad given that Flash Player was widely used across multiple platforms and applications, making this vulnerability a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to establish persistent access or cause system disruptions. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, disabling Flash Player where possible, and deploying up-to-date security patches to mitigate the risk. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which involves the use of scripting languages such as JavaScript to execute malicious code, and T1203 which covers legitimate programs that are used to perform malicious actions. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as it can lead to privilege escalation or system compromise when successfully exploited. Security researchers have documented that this vulnerability is frequently targeted in zero-day attacks due to its ability to bypass standard security controls and execute code at the system level. The exploitation typically occurs when users visit compromised websites or open malicious Flash content, making user education and awareness critical components of the overall security posture. Organizations must prioritize patch management processes to ensure that all affected systems receive the necessary updates to address this memory corruption vulnerability effectively.