CVE-2014-0583 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.252 and 14.x and 15.x before 15.0.0.223 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.418 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 15.0.0.356, Adobe AIR SDK before 15.0.0.356, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 15.0.0.356 allows attackers to complete a transition from Low Integrity to Medium Integrity via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0583 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments across multiple operating systems. This flaw exists in versions prior to 13.0.0.252 for Flash Player on Windows and OS X, and before 11.2.202.418 on Linux, while also affecting Adobe AIR versions before 15.0.0.356 across all platforms. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during the handling of certain multimedia content and scripting operations within the Flash Player runtime, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations in the heap.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of memory corruption mechanisms that occur when Flash Player processes malformed or specially crafted content. The heap-based nature of the overflow indicates that the vulnerability manifests during dynamic memory allocation operations, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. This particular flaw enables privilege escalation from Low Integrity level to Medium Integrity level, a critical security boundary violation that undermines the operating system's security model and user sandboxing mechanisms. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack could be triggered through various means including web-based content, local files, or network-based attacks that leverage Flash Player's multimedia processing capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass significant privilege escalation capabilities that could allow attackers to bypass security restrictions imposed by the operating system. The transition from Low Integrity to Medium Integrity represents a substantial security compromise since Medium Integrity processes typically have elevated permissions and access to system resources that are restricted to Low Integrity processes. This vulnerability affects not only end-user systems but also enterprise environments where Flash Player is commonly deployed, creating potential for widespread exploitation across organizations. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that attackers could target Windows, OS X, and Linux systems with a single exploit vector, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with diverse computing environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the deployment of patched versions of Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments, as well as the implementation of network-based protections such as content filtering and sandboxing measures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, Heap-based Buffer Overflow, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. Security teams should also consider implementing additional controls such as application whitelisting, monitoring for suspicious Flash Player processes, and regular vulnerability assessments to identify systems that may not have received the necessary patches. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that all affected Adobe runtime components are properly updated across all supported platforms, including the Adobe AIR SDK and Compiler components that were also affected by this vulnerability.