CVE-2017-3085 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 26.0.0.137 and earlier have a security bypass vulnerability that leads to information disclosure when performing URL redirect.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2021
Adobe Flash Player versions 26.0.0.137 and earlier contain a security bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to circumvent intended access controls and potentially disclose sensitive information during URL redirect operations. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of cross-domain policy enforcement mechanisms within the Flash Player runtime environment. The flaw specifically manifests when the player processes URL redirects that involve different domains, failing to properly validate or enforce security boundaries that should prevent unauthorized data access across domain boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Flash Player's handling of the flash.net.URLRequest and flash.net.URLLoader classes, which are commonly used for network operations within Flash applications. When a malicious redirect occurs during network requests, the player fails to properly validate the security context of the redirect destination, allowing attackers to potentially access resources or data that should be restricted based on cross-domain policy rules. This bypass occurs at the application layer where domain security policies are normally enforced, creating a pathway for information disclosure attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform information disclosure attacks against systems running vulnerable Flash Player versions. The security bypass allows for unauthorized access to data that should normally be protected by cross-domain security policies, potentially exposing sensitive information such as session cookies, authentication tokens, or other confidential data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious Flash content or manipulating existing Flash applications to perform unauthorized redirects that reveal protected information.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing improper access control enforcement in cross-domain scenarios. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript where attackers can exploit Flash vulnerabilities to execute malicious scripts that bypass security controls. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Flash Player remains installed on systems, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious web content, phishing campaigns, or compromised websites that serve malicious Flash content to unsuspecting users.
Organizations should immediately update to Adobe Flash Player version 27.0.0.130 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to block Flash content where possible, as Flash Player has been deprecated by Adobe and poses ongoing security risks. Additional mitigations include implementing proper web application firewalls, monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate outdated Flash content in enterprise environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping multimedia player components updated, as these runtime environments often contain complex security mechanisms that require regular maintenance to address newly discovered flaws.