CVE-2017-3082 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 25.0.0.171 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability in the LocaleID class. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2019
Adobe Flash Player contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability within its LocaleID class implementation that affected versions 25.0.0.171 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes within the locale identification system, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted input data. The flaw manifests when the Flash Player processes locale-related information, particularly during the initialization or modification of LocaleID objects, allowing for buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that can be leveraged for code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. Attackers could exploit this weakness by constructing malicious Flash content that triggers the vulnerable code path within the LocaleID class, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on the target system. The memory corruption occurs at the runtime level where Flash Player's ActionScript virtual machine interacts with native system memory, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard security mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3082 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to systems running vulnerable Flash Player versions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction through malicious Flash content, typically delivered via web browsers or email attachments, making it a common vector for phishing attacks and drive-by downloads. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild, particularly targeting users with outdated Flash Player installations.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to Adobe Flash Player version 25.0.0.172 or later, which includes patches addressing the memory corruption issues in the LocaleID class. Additionally, implementing browser security measures such as disabling Flash Player entirely, using sandboxing technologies, and employing content filtering solutions can significantly reduce the attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1059.007 for command and control communication and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. System administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual Flash-related traffic patterns and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.