CVE-2017-3069 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 25.0.0.148 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability in the BlendMode class. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions 25.0.0.148 and earlier contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability within the BlendMode class that presents a significant security risk to affected systems. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and is particularly concerning because it allows for arbitrary code execution when exploited successfully. The BlendMode class is responsible for handling graphical blending operations in Flash applications, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to leverage memory corruption flaws for malicious purposes.
The technical flaw manifests as a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue within the BlendMode implementation where improper bounds checking or memory management occurs during processing of graphical operations. Attackers can craft malicious Flash content that triggers this vulnerability when the affected Flash Player processes the blend mode operations, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This type of vulnerability is classified as a CWE-121, which represents stack-based buffer overflow conditions, or potentially CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflows, depending on the specific memory corruption mechanism exploited.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to bypass security controls and establish persistent access to compromised systems. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious code in the context of the Flash Player application, which typically runs with the privileges of the user who is viewing the malicious content. This can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash Player is still actively used, as it can serve as a gateway for lateral movement and privilege escalation attacks.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to Adobe Flash Player versions 26.0.0.137 or later, which contain patches addressing this specific memory corruption vulnerability. Security teams should also implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block malicious Flash content before it reaches end users. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive monitoring for exploitation attempts and regular security assessments to identify any remaining vulnerable systems. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including execution through malicious code and privilege escalation, making it a critical concern for security operations centers that must defend against advanced persistent threats leveraging legacy Flash vulnerabilities.