CVE-2014-0590 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
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 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code by leveraging an unspecified "type confusion," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-0577, CVE-2014-0584, CVE-2014-0585, and CVE-2014-0586.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.252 and 14.x and 15.x before 15.0.0.223 on Windows and OS X, along with Adobe AIR versions before 15.0.0.356 and corresponding SDK versions, contained a critical type confusion vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability specifically exploited a flaw in how the software handled object type information during runtime operations, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability differed from other related issues such as CVE-2014-0577 through CVE-2014-0586, indicating a distinct code path and exploitation technique that required careful analysis of the Flash Player's internal object management systems.
The technical flaw manifested as a type confusion issue that occurred when Flash Player processed certain malformed data structures, particularly in how it managed object references and memory allocation patterns. This type confusion allowed attackers to corrupt memory layouts and potentially overwrite critical function pointers or execute arbitrary code through carefully crafted input that manipulated the runtime's type system. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be triggered through web content, making it exploitable via standard web browsers without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. This aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper handling of length variables and buffers, and represents a classic example of memory corruption vulnerabilities that are frequently targeted by advanced persistent threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe across multiple platforms and deployment scenarios, affecting both desktop and mobile environments where Adobe Flash Player was installed. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to bypass security controls, escalate privileges, and establish persistent access to affected systems. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability meant that organizations needed to apply patches across multiple software components including Flash Player, Adobe AIR, and various SDK versions. This vulnerability was particularly concerning because it could be exploited in zero-day scenarios where attackers had not yet been detected, and the exploitation techniques were sophisticated enough to evade standard security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patch deployment across all affected Adobe products, including Flash Player, AIR, and SDK versions. Organizations should have implemented network segmentation and web filtering controls to prevent access to potentially malicious content while patches were being deployed. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing comprehensive patch management processes that could address multiple related vulnerabilities simultaneously. Security professionals should have monitored exploit indicators and implemented behavioral analysis to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the type confusion attack patterns were consistent with techniques documented in the attack framework, including those related to privilege escalation and code execution through memory corruption. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should have been conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other Adobe products and third-party applications that relied on Flash technology.