CVE-2017-3062 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 25.0.0.127 and earlier have an exploitable use after free vulnerability in ActionScript2 when creating a getter/setter property. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2022
Adobe Flash Player contained a critical use after free vulnerability in its ActionScript2 implementation that affected versions 25.0.0.127 and earlier. This vulnerability arises from improper memory management during the creation of getter and setter properties within the ActionScript2 runtime environment. The flaw occurs when the Flash Player's virtual machine fails to properly track object references during the dynamic creation of property accessors, leading to scenarios where freed memory locations are still accessed or modified by subsequent operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system attempts to create getter and setter property definitions that reference objects which have already been deallocated from memory. This memory corruption condition creates a predictable attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate the execution flow of the Flash Player runtime.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with common memory corruption attack methodologies. Attackers can craft malicious SWF files that trigger the specific code path involving getter/setter property creation, causing the Flash Player to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. The use after free condition allows for memory spraying techniques and heap manipulation that can lead to remote code execution. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of a widely deployed multimedia platform that runs on multiple operating systems including windows macos and linux. The flaw represents a classic memory safety issue that has been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature and aligns with CWE-416 which specifically addresses use after free conditions in software development. The vulnerability demonstrates how dynamic property creation mechanisms in scripting environments can create dangerous memory management scenarios when proper reference counting or garbage collection protocols are not maintained.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3062 extends far beyond simple code execution as it represents a complete compromise of user systems running vulnerable Flash Player versions. Organizations that had not updated their Flash Player installations faced significant risk of targeted attacks, as this vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild by threat actors seeking to leverage the broad browser compatibility of Flash content. The attack surface is particularly large because Flash Player was integrated into web browsers and ran automatically on most internet-connected devices, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by download scenarios. Security researchers have documented numerous instances where this vulnerability was used in conjunction with other exploits to establish initial access and then deploy additional malware payloads. The threat landscape for this vulnerability was further complicated by the fact that many organizations had legacy systems running Flash Player for critical applications, creating extended attack windows where remediation was difficult or impossible.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3062 required immediate action from organizations to prevent exploitation of the vulnerability. The most effective approach was the immediate deprecation and removal of Flash Player from all systems, as Adobe officially ended support for Flash Player in 2020. Organizations should have implemented network-based protections including firewall rules that blocked access to known malicious Flash content and web proxies that filtered SWF files. Endpoint protection solutions needed to be updated to detect and block malicious Flash content, though this approach was limited by the nature of the vulnerability which could be exploited even in sandboxed environments. Security teams should have conducted comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable Flash Player versions and prioritized remediation efforts accordingly. The remediation process required careful planning to avoid disrupting legitimate business applications that might have relied on Flash Player functionality. Additional defensive measures included browser security hardening, application whitelisting, and user education about the dangers of visiting untrusted websites with Flash content. This vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and the risks associated with legacy technologies that are no longer supported by vendors, reinforcing principles from the mitre att&ck framework that emphasize the exploitation of known vulnerabilities as a primary attack vector in modern cyber campaigns.