External risk intelligence

Adobe Flash Player Code Execution Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2017-11292

A flaw in Adobe Flash Player's bytecode verification can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability poses a risk to affected organizations by potentially compromising systems and data, and disrupting operations. Organizations should address this by disabling or removing the software.

1Halo Surface Signal

Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime

27.0.0.159 and earlier27.0.0.130 and earlier6.0

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2017-11292

This vulnerability affects Adobe Flash Player, which is a client-side browser plugin or desktop runtime. It is not a network-accessible service, gateway, or internet-facing appliance. Its exposure is limited to local execution on a user's machine when processing content, making it fundamentally different from public-facing server-side infrastructure.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

Adobe Flash Player contains a flaw in its bytecode verification process. This weakness allows an untrusted value to affect array index calculations, potentially leading to type confusion and the execution of arbitrary code. Successful exploitation could result in significant business disruption and security risks.

  • Vulnerable Adobe Flash Player
  • Flawed bytecode verification process
  • Potential for arbitrary code execution

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

Adobe Flash Player's bytecode verification procedure contains a flaw that allows an untrusted value to influence array indexing. This can lead to type confusion, potentially enabling an attacker to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability arises from how the software handles specific values within its code processing.

  • Exposure condition: Untrusted content processing.
  • Attacker starting point: Malicious content delivery.
  • Trigger and result: Type confusion leads to code execution.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on a targeted system. Exploitation typically requires an attacker to trick a user into opening a malicious file, such as a crafted document or web page. The potential impact includes unauthorized access to data, system compromise, and disruption of operations. Given the nature of the vulnerability and its potential for broad impact, organizations should consider this a high-priority issue if affected systems remain in use.

  • Attackers with low skill levels.
  • User interaction with malicious content.
  • Significant business risk and urgency.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

Adobe Flash Player experienced a bytecode verification flaw that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability presents a significant risk due to its potential for remote code execution. Organizations should prioritize actions to mitigate this risk, particularly as Adobe Flash Player is end-of-life.

  • Identify all systems running affected Adobe Flash Player versions.
  • Disable or remove Adobe Flash Player from all systems.
  • Verify removal and monitor for any residual or related activity.

Frequently asked questions

What is Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime and what is it used for?

Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime was a software application used to display content created with the Adobe Flash platform, such as animations, applications, and videos. It was commonly integrated with web browsers or used as a standalone player.

How does CVE-2017-11292 enable arbitrary code execution?

CVE-2017-11292 is a type confusion vulnerability (CWE-843) in Adobe Flash Player's bytecode verification. A flaw allows an untrusted value to be used when calculating an array index, which can lead to confusion about data types and potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code.

What are the preconditions for an attacker to trigger this Flash Player vulnerability?

An attacker would typically need to trick a user into processing malicious content, such as opening a specially crafted document or visiting a web page containing malicious Flash content. The vulnerability is not triggered by simply running the software; user interaction with malicious content is required.

Who should care about this Adobe Flash Player vulnerability based on its exposure?

Anyone running Adobe Flash Player, especially on systems that might encounter external content, should be concerned. While Adobe Flash Player itself is not a network-accessible service, it processes content that could originate from the internet, making it a risk for users who browse the web or open shared documents.

What is the first step for responding to this CVE if running affected technology?

The most critical first step is to disable or remove Adobe Flash Player from all systems. Given that Adobe Flash Player is end-of-life, it no longer receives security updates and should be eliminated to mitigate risks.

References

Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)

Sources: malpedia