Adobe Flash Player Dereferenced Pointer
CVE-2014-8439 is a high-severity improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer vulnerability in Flash Player from Adobe, with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 10.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Flash Player versions: 11.2.202.418 and earlier; 15.0.0.223 and earlier; 13.0.0.252 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on May 25, 2022, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update Air SDK & Compiler to 15.0.0.302 or a later version.
- CISA's required action: The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use.
- Read the advisory on helpx.adobe.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe | Flash Player | 11.2.202.418 and earlier; 15.0.0.223 and earlier; 13.0.0.252 and earlier | Not stated |
| Adobe | Air | 15.0.0.292 and earlier | Not stated |
| Adobe | Air SDK | 15.0.0.301 and earlier | Not stated |
| Adobe | Air SDK & Compiler | before 15.0.0.302 | 15.0.0.302 |
Version data comes from NVD's product matching. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Access vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network.
- Access complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed.
- Authentication
- NoneNo login is needed.
- Confidentiality
- CompleteAll data can be read.
- Integrity
- CompleteAny data can be modified.
- Availability
- CompleteThe system can be shut down completely.
Vector: AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | CISA (ADP) |
| CVSS 2.0 | 10.0 | High | NVD |
Official description
Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.258 and 14.x and 15.x before 15.0.0.239 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.424 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 15.0.0.293, Adobe AIR SDK before 15.0.0.302, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 15.0.0.302 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (invalid pointer dereference) via unspecified vectors.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it reads from or writes to a memory location outside the buffer's intended boundary.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, many languages that perform their own memory management, such as Java and Perl, are not subject to buffer overflows. Other languages, such as Ada and C#, typically provide overflow protection, but the protection can be disabled by the programmer. Be wary that a language's interface to native code may still be subject to overflows, even if the language itself is theoretically safe.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Examples include the Safe C String Library (SafeStr) by Messier and Viega, and the Strsafe.h library from Microsoft. These libraries provide safer versions of overflow-prone string-handling functions.
- Use automatic buffer overflow detection mechanisms that are offered by certain compilers or compiler extensions. Examples include: the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag, Fedora/Red Hat FORTIFY_SOURCE GCC flag, StackGuard, and ProPolice, which provide various mechanisms including canary-based detection and range/index checking. D3-SFCV (Stack Frame Canary Validation) from D3FEND discusses canary-based detection in detail.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Third-party and government advisories
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-11/msg00020.htmlThird Party Advisory
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-12/msg00001.htmlThird Party Advisory
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-12/msg00004.htmlThird Party Advisory
- securityfocus.com/bid/71289Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- securitytracker.com/id/1031259Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/98932Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00002768.htmlThird Party Advisory
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2014-8439US Government Resource
Other references
- secunia.com/advisories/60217Permissions Required
Other vulnerabilities in Flash Player
- 7.8 High severity
Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free Exploited
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free Exploited
- 8.8 High severity
Adobe Flash Player Type Confusion Exploited
- 8.8 High severity
Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free Exploited
- 8.8 High severity
Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free Exploited
Recent Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer vulnerabilities
- 9.3 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Exploited
- 7.5 High severity
Adobe Flash Player Memory Corruption Exploited
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.3 High severity
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