CVE-2014-9162 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 obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2022
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, along with versions before 11.2.202.425 on Linux, contained a vulnerability that enabled attackers to extract sensitive information through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure flaws that can potentially expose confidential data to unauthorized parties. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways may have existed for exploitation, making the vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective. Such information disclosure vulnerabilities are often classified under CWE-200, which deals with exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and may also relate to CWE-312, which addresses exposure of sensitive data through cleartext storage or transmission. The vulnerability represents a significant risk in environments where Flash Player is widely used, as it could potentially allow attackers to access system information, user data, or application secrets that should remain protected. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as the sensitive information obtained could be used for further attacks, identity theft, or other malicious activities that compromise the overall security posture of affected systems. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Flash Player versions, indicating that it was likely a fundamental flaw in the software architecture rather than a specific implementation error. This widespread impact across multiple version lines and operating systems suggests that the vulnerability was deeply embedded within the Flash Player codebase and required comprehensive patching across all affected platforms. From an operational standpoint, organizations using these vulnerable versions faced significant risk, as the unspecified attack vectors could potentially be exploited through various methods including web-based attacks, malicious content delivery, or social engineering campaigns that trick users into executing compromised Flash content. The vulnerability's presence in both Windows and OS X platforms, as well as Linux systems, indicates that attackers could potentially target users across multiple operating environments, making the remediation effort more complex and comprehensive.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling within the Flash Player runtime environment. Attackers could leverage unspecified vectors to access memory locations or data structures that should remain protected from external access. This type of vulnerability often arises from improper bounds checking, insufficient validation of user-supplied data, or inadequate protection mechanisms within the application's memory management system. The attack vectors likely involved manipulating Flash content or application behavior to trigger memory access patterns that would reveal sensitive information. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited through seemingly benign web content, making them difficult to detect and prevent through traditional security measures. The information disclosure could potentially include system memory contents, user session data, cryptographic keys, or other confidential information that applications or operating systems typically protect from unauthorized access. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the information gathering phase, where adversaries seek to understand system configurations, user information, and potential data sources before launching more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability also relates to privilege escalation and lateral movement techniques, as the sensitive information obtained could be used to identify system weaknesses or user credentials that could then be exploited for further access. Organizations implementing mitigations for this vulnerability would have needed to ensure complete patch deployment across all affected systems, implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, and potentially restrict Flash Player usage in high-security environments. The remediation process required careful coordination across different platforms and version lines, as each operating system may have required specific patching procedures and compatibility considerations. Security teams needed to monitor for indicators of compromise related to Flash Player exploitation attempts and develop incident response procedures to address potential breaches that could result from this vulnerability. The vulnerability also highlighted the broader risks associated with legacy software platforms, particularly those that had been widely deployed across enterprise environments and continued to receive limited security support over time. This case demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the dangers of running outdated software components that may contain known vulnerabilities. The information disclosure nature of this vulnerability also emphasized the need for comprehensive security testing and code review processes that can identify memory handling issues and data exposure risks in complex software applications. Organizations should have implemented layered security approaches including network segmentation, application whitelisting, and regular security assessments to reduce the attack surface and minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Flash Player versions also underscored the importance of having robust vulnerability management processes that can quickly identify, assess, and remediate security issues across diverse software environments.