CVE-2017-3080 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 26.0.0.131 and earlier have a security bypass vulnerability related to the Flash API used by Internet Explorer. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
Adobe Flash Player versions 26.0.0.131 and earlier contain a security bypass vulnerability that specifically affects the Flash API integration with Internet Explorer browsers. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of cross-domain policy enforcement within the Flash Player's ActionScript runtime environment, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent security restrictions that should normally prevent unauthorized data access between different domains. The flaw exists in how Flash Player processes security policies when interacting with internet explorer's security model, particularly during the initialization of flash objects within web pages. This issue represents a critical weakness in the sandboxing mechanisms that Flash Player employs to isolate potentially malicious content from the underlying operating system and browser environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of Flash's security model through crafted web content that exploits inconsistencies in how Internet Explorer handles Flash objects. When Flash Player processes certain API calls or object initialization sequences, it fails to properly validate cross-domain access requests, allowing attackers to bypass the standard security boundaries that normally prevent a Flash application from accessing data from different origins. This bypass occurs at the application programming interface level where Flash Player's ActionScript 3.0 runtime does not adequately enforce domain security policies, particularly when combined with Internet Explorer's security context handling. The vulnerability specifically impacts the way Flash Player evaluates security policies during the loading and execution of SWF files within IE environments, creating a window where unauthorized data access can occur without proper authentication or authorization checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. Attackers could leverage this bypass to access sensitive data that should normally be protected by cross-domain security policies, including cookies, session information, or other user-specific data stored in memory. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash Player is commonly used for business applications, as it could allow attackers to extract confidential information from within the organization's network perimeter. The security implications are further amplified by the widespread use of Adobe Flash Player across various web applications, making this vulnerability a prime target for exploitation. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to unauthorized access to information that should remain isolated between different security domains. The vulnerability also aligns with attack patterns described in the attack tree model where bypassing security controls leads to privilege escalation and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through patching Adobe Flash Player to versions that address the specific cross-domain policy enforcement flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious Flash-related activity and ensure that Flash Player is disabled or removed from systems where it is not strictly required for business operations. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level controls that restrict Flash content execution and establish strict policies for Flash Player usage within enterprise environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper API security implementation and highlights the need for robust cross-domain security mechanisms in rich internet applications. This issue aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control and CWE-352 which covers cross-site request forgery, both of which are relevant to the security bypass nature of this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of defense in depth, ensuring that multiple security layers are in place to prevent exploitation even if one control fails. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other rich media applications and browser plugins that may present similar security risks.