CVE-2017-2931 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 24.0.0.186 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability related to the parsing of SWF metadata. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
Adobe Flash Player versions 24.0.0.186 and earlier contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that stems from improper handling of SWF metadata during the parsing process. This vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow condition where the application fails to properly validate or bounds-check data structures when processing metadata embedded within Adobe Flash files. The flaw occurs when the player attempts to parse malformed or specially crafted metadata fields that exceed allocated memory boundaries, leading to unpredictable memory corruption patterns that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions. When Flash Player processes SWF files containing crafted metadata, the parsing routine does not adequately verify the size or structure of metadata elements before attempting to copy or process them into memory buffers. This lack of proper input validation creates a predictable exploitation vector where attackers can craft malicious SWF files that trigger the buffer overflow during metadata parsing operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because SWF files are commonly distributed through web browsers and can be automatically executed without user intervention, making this a prime target for drive-by attack scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise when exploited successfully. Attackers leveraging this memory corruption flaw can achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the Flash Player process, which typically runs with the privileges of the logged-in user. This privilege escalation capability allows malicious actors to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is amplified by the widespread deployment of Flash Player across various operating systems and the common practice of enabling Flash content in web browsers, creating an extensive attack surface that security professionals have documented in numerous threat intelligence reports.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2931 should prioritize immediate remediation through patch management, as Adobe released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations must implement comprehensive patch deployment schedules to ensure all instances of Flash Player are updated to versions that contain proper bounds checking and memory validation routines. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional protection by blocking known malicious SWF content or implementing strict file type validation for Flash content. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious SWF file patterns and anomalous Flash Player behavior, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to restrict Flash Player execution in web browsers and disable unnecessary Flash content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that reduce the attack surface of legacy applications like Adobe Flash Player, which has been deprecated and discontinued by Adobe in favor of more secure technologies.