CVE-2017-3100 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 26.0.0.131 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability in the Action Script 2 BitmapData class. Successful exploitation could lead to memory address disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
Adobe Flash Player contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability in its Action Script 2 BitmapData class that affected versions 26.0.0.131 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the bitmap data handling functionality, creating a condition where attacker-controlled input could trigger invalid memory access patterns. The flaw allows for arbitrary memory read operations that could potentially expose sensitive memory addresses, providing attackers with information that could be leveraged in subsequent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability manifests when the Flash Player processes malformed bitmap data structures, leading to unpredictable memory behavior that can be exploited to disclose memory addresses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of bitmap data objects within the Action Script 2 runtime environment. When Flash Player encounters specially crafted bitmap data that exceeds expected boundaries or contains malformed structures, the memory management system fails to properly validate the input before processing. This results in memory corruption that can be leveraged to read arbitrary memory locations, potentially exposing stack pointers, heap addresses, or other sensitive memory regions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities that can lead to memory disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the exploitation chain. Memory address disclosure provides attackers with critical information about the target system's memory layout, enabling them to bypass security mechanisms such as address space layout randomization. Attackers can use this information to craft more precise exploits that target specific memory regions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability represents a significant concern in enterprise environments where Flash Player remains in use, as it can be leveraged in advanced persistent threat campaigns that require detailed system information for successful compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Flash Player installations to version 26.0.0.132 or later, which contains the necessary memory validation fixes. Organizations should also implement network-based restrictions that block Flash content from untrusted sources, particularly in environments where Flash is not essential for business operations. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems, looking for patterns associated with memory disclosure attacks. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting languages and T1068, which addresses exploitation of remote services. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and disabling Flash Player entirely where possible provides defense-in-depth measures that reduce the attack surface for this and similar vulnerabilities.