CVE-2017-2998 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 24.0.0.221 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability in the Primetime TVSDK API functionality related to timeline interactions. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
Adobe Flash Player contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability within its Primetime TVSDK API functionality that affected versions up to and including 24.0.0.221. This vulnerability emerged from improper handling of timeline interactions within the media playback framework, creating a condition where malicious input could trigger unauthorized memory access patterns. The flaw manifested as a buffer overflow or use-after-free condition when processing specific timeline events, allowing attackers to manipulate memory structures in ways that could be exploited for code execution. The vulnerability specifically targeted the interaction between the TVSDK API and Flash Player's rendering engine, where timeline data structures were not properly validated before being processed. This memory corruption could be triggered through crafted media content or web pages that utilized the affected API functions, making it particularly dangerous in web browser environments where Flash Player was commonly executed. The attack vector typically involved loading malicious content that would cause the vulnerable code path to execute, potentially leading to complete system compromise. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The exploitability of this vulnerability was enhanced by the widespread use of Flash Player in web browsers and the fact that many users ran the software with elevated privileges. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability could be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks, as the memory corruption occurred within the Flash Player process space and could potentially be used to gain deeper system access. The operational impact was significant given that Flash Player was a widely deployed runtime environment that executed multimedia content across numerous platforms and applications. Organizations that had not yet migrated away from Flash Player were particularly vulnerable to this type of attack, as the exploitation could occur without user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The vulnerability also presented challenges for detection and mitigation since it occurred within legitimate API functionality and could be difficult to distinguish from normal application behavior. The attack pattern aligned with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Execution, specifically targeting the use of malicious code execution through compromised software components. Organizations needed to implement immediate patching strategies and consider disabling Flash Player functionality in their environments to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability highlighted the risks associated with legacy software components that continued to receive limited security updates and demonstrated the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions to protect against known exploits. Security professionals recommended implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block potentially malicious Flash content while organizations worked to phase out Flash Player usage entirely. The incident underscored the broader challenges of securing multimedia frameworks and the need for robust input validation and memory safety practices in software development.