CVE-2017-2926 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 24.0.0.186 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability related to processing of atoms in MP4 files. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
Adobe Flash Player contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability in its handling of MP4 file atoms that affects versions 24.0.0.186 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of atom structures within MP4 containers, creating a condition where malformed or specially crafted atom data can trigger improper memory handling during processing. The flaw occurs when the player attempts to parse and interpret atom headers and associated data without adequate bounds checking or input sanitization mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this weakness by constructing malicious MP4 files containing specially formatted atoms that cause the Flash Player to write beyond allocated memory boundaries or corrupt critical data structures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic memory corruption pattern that aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions. When Flash Player processes the malformed atom data, it fails to properly validate the size fields within atom headers, leading to scenarios where the parser reads or writes data beyond the intended memory allocation. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through routine media playback operations, making it highly accessible to attackers who can deliver malicious content via web browsers or other applications that utilize Flash Player for media processing. The memory corruption typically manifests as stack or heap corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security environments and individual users alike. Attackers can craft MP4 files that, when opened in a vulnerable Flash Player, will automatically trigger the memory corruption and allow remote code execution without user interaction. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or when users visit compromised websites that serve malicious media content. The attack surface is broad since Flash Player was widely deployed across browsers and applications, and the exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage or opening a compromised file. This vulnerability can be exploited to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deliver additional malware payloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2926 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Flash Player installations, as Adobe released security updates to address this specific memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement browser security policies that disable Flash Player content entirely, particularly in enterprise environments where the risk of exploitation is highest. Network-based defenses can include content filtering systems that block MP4 files from untrusted sources or employ deep packet inspection to identify malformed atom structures. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual Flash Player memory access patterns or unexpected code execution events that may indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through legitimate user processes and privilege escalation, with potential lateral movement capabilities once initial access is achieved. The vulnerability also demonstrates how multimedia processing libraries can become attack vectors, highlighting the importance of secure coding practices in media handling components and the necessity of thorough input validation across all file format parsers.