CVE-2014-0551 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-2014-0549, CVE-2014-0550, 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 runtime environments contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks on affected systems. This vulnerability existed in multiple product versions across different operating systems and platforms, specifically affecting Flash Player versions 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, along with corresponding Adobe AIR versions and SDKs. The flaw manifested as an unspecified memory corruption issue that could be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability represented a distinct threat vector from other related CVEs in the same timeframe, specifically excluding CVE-2014-0547, CVE-2014-0549, CVE-2014-0550, CVE-2014-0552, and CVE-2014-0555, indicating a unique code path or exploitation technique. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers leverage memory corruption to gain execution privileges. The vulnerability's impact was particularly severe given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise and consumer environments, making it a prime target for exploit development. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would be categorized under CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer, as it involved unauthorized memory access patterns that could lead to code execution. The attack surface was extensive since Flash Player was integrated into web browsers and supported numerous applications across different platforms, creating multiple potential entry points for exploitation. The vulnerability's exploitation typically required a user to visit a malicious website or open a compromised file, making social engineering a critical component of successful attacks. Organizations deploying these affected versions faced significant risk due to the difficulty in patching Flash Player installations, especially in enterprise environments where legacy applications relied heavily on Flash content. The memory corruption nature of the vulnerability meant that attackers could manipulate heap memory structures to overwrite critical program data or function pointers, leading to arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability was particularly challenging to defend against since it occurred at the application level within the Flash runtime, bypassing many traditional network security controls. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple product versions and operating systems indicated a fundamental flaw in the Flash Player memory management system that required comprehensive patching across all affected platforms. Security researchers identified that the vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including crafted SWF files, malicious web content, or compromised websites that would trigger the vulnerable code path during Flash Player processing. The widespread use of Flash Player in enterprise environments meant that successful exploitation could lead to significant data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw placed it in the high-risk category for enterprise security teams, requiring immediate remediation efforts. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management strategies to address all affected versions of Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR across their networks. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond individual systems to encompass entire enterprise infrastructures, particularly where Flash Player was integrated into business-critical applications or web-based services. Security professionals noted that the vulnerability's exploitation required minimal user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited security awareness training programs.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability demonstrated the inherent risks associated with complex multimedia runtime environments. Attackers could leverage the flaw through memory corruption techniques that manipulated heap management structures within the Flash Player runtime, potentially allowing them to redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability's exploitation required careful crafting of malicious content that would trigger specific memory access patterns within the Flash Player engine, making it a sophisticated target for advanced persistent threat actors. The fact that this vulnerability existed across multiple platforms including Windows, OS X, and Linux highlighted the cross-platform nature of the attack vector and the need for comprehensive security coverage. Organizations implementing security controls needed to consider the unique characteristics of Flash Player memory management when developing intrusion detection systems or endpoint protection strategies. The vulnerability's classification under memory corruption CWE categories indicated that standard input validation techniques would be insufficient for protection, requiring more advanced security measures including address space layout randomization and stack canaries. The attack methodology typically involved crafting malicious Flash content that would cause memory corruption during normal playback operations, making user interaction essential for exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR SDKs and compilers meant that developers creating Flash applications were also at risk, as the same memory corruption patterns could be present in custom application code. Security researchers emphasized that the vulnerability's exploitation was not limited to web-based attacks but could also occur through file-based delivery methods, expanding the potential attack surface. The vulnerability's impact on system stability was significant, as memory corruption could lead to application crashes, system instability, or complete system compromise depending on the exploitation method used. Organizations needed to implement layered security approaches that included network segmentation, application whitelisting, and regular security assessments to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. The vulnerability's remediation required careful coordination between IT departments and application vendors to ensure that all affected systems were properly patched without disrupting critical business operations. The incident highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the risks associated with running outdated software versions in enterprise environments. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product versions also indicated that the underlying memory management issues had persisted across different development cycles, requiring fundamental architectural changes to address the root cause. Security professionals recommended immediate patch deployment and implementation of network-level controls to prevent exploitation attempts while maintaining business continuity. The vulnerability's classification as a critical remote code execution flaw underscored the need for continuous security monitoring and rapid response capabilities within enterprise security operations centers.