CVE-2014-0587 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.259 and 14.x through 16.x before 16.0.0.235 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.425 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-9164.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.259 on Windows and OS X, and versions 14.x through 16.x before 16.0.0.235 on the same platforms, as well as versions before 11.2.202.425 on Linux, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct flaw from CVE-2014-9164 and demonstrates the complex nature of Flash Player's memory management systems. The unspecified attack vectors suggest that multiple code paths within the Flash Player runtime could be exploited to trigger memory corruption, potentially through malformed multimedia content or malicious SWF files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory allocation practices within Flash Player's ActionScript virtual machine, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code. This flaw aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes. The attack surface extends across multiple operating systems, making it particularly dangerous as it affects both desktop and server environments where Flash Player was commonly deployed. The memory corruption occurs during normal Flash Player operation when processing malicious content, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory regions and potentially gain full system control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation to encompass significant security risks for enterprise environments. Organizations relying on Flash Player for web content delivery faced potential compromise of their entire network infrastructure, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors or escalate privileges. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability meant that security teams had to implement patches across multiple operating systems simultaneously, creating operational complexity. This vulnerability also highlighted the broader risks associated with legacy Flash Player implementations, as many organizations continued to use older versions despite known security issues. The memory corruption could manifest in various ways including application crashes, system instability, or complete system compromise. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and control through Flash-based payloads, and T1203 for legitimate user execution. The exploitation timeline was particularly concerning as Flash Player remained widely deployed across enterprise networks, making the window of exposure substantial.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, with particular attention to the specific version ranges mentioned in the CVE description. Organizations should have implemented network segmentation to limit Flash Player's capabilities and restricted access to potentially malicious content. The patching process needed to address both the Windows and OS X versions as well as the Linux variants, demonstrating the complexity of managing Flash Player security across heterogeneous environments. Security teams should have conducted thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Flash Player versions and prioritized remediation efforts based on risk exposure. Additional protective measures included implementing content filtering solutions to block malicious SWF files, disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscored the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust software inventory management processes to identify legacy applications that pose security risks. Organizations should have established incident response procedures specifically tailored to address Flash Player-related security incidents, as the memory corruption characteristics made traditional forensic analysis more challenging. The remediation process highlighted the broader issue of legacy software support and the need for organizations to develop strategies for phasing out insecure applications while maintaining business continuity.