CVE-2017-2930 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 24.0.0.186 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability due to a concurrency error when manipulating a display list. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
Adobe Flash Player contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability classified as CVE-2017-2930 that affects versions 24.0.0.186 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from a concurrency error during display list manipulation operations within the Flash Player runtime environment. The flaw occurs when multiple threads attempt to access and modify the display list simultaneously without proper synchronization mechanisms, creating a race condition that can result in heap corruption. The vulnerability manifests when the Flash Player processes certain multimedia content that triggers concurrent access patterns to shared display list objects, leading to unpredictable memory behavior. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious Flash content that forces the player into a state where memory corruption occurs during thread synchronization failures. When successful, this memory corruption allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which describes race conditions in concurrent programming where multiple threads access shared resources without proper locking mechanisms. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant threat vector since Flash Player was widely deployed across enterprise environments and remained a common attack surface for malware delivery. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that Flash content could be delivered through various web-based attack vectors, including email attachments, compromised websites, and social engineering campaigns. Organizations utilizing older Flash Player versions face substantial risk as this vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent access to target systems, potentially leading to full system compromise. The concurrency error in display list handling creates a persistent memory corruption state that can be reliably triggered through specific sequence of multimedia operations, making it a robust exploit target for threat actors. Security researchers have identified that the vulnerability can be exploited through sandbox escape techniques, allowing attackers to bypass operating system security controls. This flaw demonstrates the critical importance of proper thread synchronization in multimedia frameworks and highlights the dangers of legacy software components that may contain unpatched concurrency issues. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate code execution as it can serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised networks. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through Flash Player updates and consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls to block malicious Flash content. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under initial access and execution tactics, where attackers leverage browser-based exploits to gain system access. Given the widespread use of Flash Player in enterprise environments, this vulnerability required urgent attention and remediation efforts across multiple organizations. The memory corruption characteristics of this flaw make it particularly dangerous as it can be used to inject malicious code into memory spaces that are normally protected, effectively bypassing standard security mechanisms. Proper patch management and software retirement strategies become essential when dealing with vulnerabilities of this nature, especially when legacy applications continue to operate in production environments.