CVE-2017-2999 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
Adobe Flash Player versions 24.0.0.221 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability in the Primetime TVSDK functionality related to hosting playback surface. 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 in its Primetime TVSDK component that affected versions 24.0.0.221 and earlier. This flaw emerged within the hosting playback surface functionality which is responsible for managing video content rendering and playback operations. The vulnerability stemmed from improper memory handling during the processing of multimedia content, specifically when Flash Player attempted to manage video surfaces for streaming media playback. The memory corruption occurred due to inadequate bounds checking and memory management practices within the TVSDK implementation, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involved crafting specially crafted media content that would trigger the memory corruption when processed by the affected Flash Player version. Attackers could leverage this flaw by delivering malicious Flash content through web browsers or other applications that embedded Flash Player components. The vulnerability was classified as a heap-based buffer overflow according to CWE-121, where insufficient validation of input data led to memory corruption in heap allocated structures. This type of vulnerability allowed for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Flash Player process, potentially enabling full system compromise. The flaw was particularly dangerous because it could be exploited through web browsers without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2999 extended beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise and persistent threats. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability's exploitation was particularly concerning given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise environments and consumer systems, creating a large attack surface. This vulnerability aligned with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation would allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands and potentially escalate privileges. Organizations running affected versions faced significant risk of data breaches and system infiltration, especially in environments where Flash Player was still actively used for multimedia content delivery.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of all affected Adobe Flash Player installations, with security teams prioritizing deployment across enterprise networks. Organizations should have implemented network-based protections including web application firewalls and content filtering to block malicious Flash content. The remediation process needed to address not only the primary vulnerability but also consider related components within the Flash Player ecosystem that might share similar memory management flaws. Security teams should have conducted comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Flash Player versions and established monitoring protocols for suspicious activity. Additionally, organizations needed to develop incident response procedures specifically addressing Flash-based exploits and implement network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurred. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the dangers of continuing to support legacy software components that no longer receive security updates.