CVE-2017-2992 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 24.0.0.194 and earlier have an exploitable heap overflow vulnerability when parsing an MP4 header. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2025
Adobe Flash Player versions 24.0.0.194 and earlier contain a critical heap overflow vulnerability that arises during the parsing of MP4 header structures. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The flaw specifically manifests when the player processes malformed MP4 files that contain oversized or malformed header fields, particularly within the moov atom structure that contains metadata about the video file. When the parser attempts to copy data from the MP4 header into insufficiently sized heap buffers, it overflows adjacent memory regions, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite critical memory structures including return addresses and function pointers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass sophisticated attack vectors that leverage the heap overflow to achieve remote code execution on vulnerable systems. Attackers can craft malicious MP4 files that, when opened by an affected Flash Player, trigger the buffer overflow condition. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the widespread deployment of Flash Player across multiple operating systems including windows macos and linux, making it an attractive target for mass deployment attacks. The heap overflow can be leveraged to overwrite the instruction pointer or other critical memory locations, enabling attackers to redirect execution flow to malicious code injected into the heap memory space. This type of vulnerability aligns with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter with the specific focus on flash player exploitation.
The exploitation of CVE-2017-2992 typically requires a user to interact with a maliciously crafted MP4 file through a web browser or media player that utilizes the vulnerable Flash Player component. This makes it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or malicious websites where users are诱导 to download and play media content. The vulnerability's exploitation can bypass many traditional security measures including basic antivirus detection because the attack occurs within the legitimate Flash Player execution environment. Organizations should note that this vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where Flash Player remains enabled despite its deprecation and the availability of more secure media playback alternatives. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted flash content. Security professionals should also consider implementing network-based detection mechanisms that can identify malicious MP4 files based on their header structures and potentially malicious patterns within the file metadata that could indicate an attempt to exploit this heap overflow condition.