CVE-2012-1535
Adobe Flash Player Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2012-1535 is a HIGH vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player, carrying a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8. Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via crafted SWF content. The flaw is classified under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation). Exploitation typically occurs through malicious Flash content embedded in web pages or delivered via documents containing embedded SWF objects, triggering the vulnerability when the content is rendered. This CVE is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog with a remediation deadline of 2022-03-24. With an EPSS score of 0.91419 (99.66th percentile), this vulnerability exhibits substantial real-world exploitation activity.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorCWEs
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | flash player | < 11.3.300.271; < 11.2.202.238 |
| redhat | enterprise linux desktop | 5.0 |
| redhat | enterprise linux server | 5.0 |
| redhat | enterprise linux workstation | 5.0 |
| opensuse | opensuse | 11.4; 12.1 |
| suse | linux enterprise desktop | 10 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-08/msg00010.html(Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-08/msg00012.html(Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139455789818399&w=2(Mailing List)
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1203.html(Third Party Advisory)
- http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201209-01.xml(Third Party Advisory)
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb12-18.html(Not Applicable, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2012-1535(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
CVE-2012-1535 is classified under CWE-20 — Improper Input Validation. Improper Input Validation is a software weakness where a product receives input or data but does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties required to process data safely and correctly. This vulnerability occurs when applications accept user-supplied data without verifying that it conforms to expected formats, lengths, types, or ranges. Attackers can exploit this weakness by providing malicious, malformed, or unexpected input to alter program behavior, gain unauthorized access, execute arbitrary code, or cause denial of service. Input validation failures are the root cause of many critical vulnerabilities including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), command injection, buffer overflows, and path traversal attacks.
In the context of Adobe Flash Player, this weakness class is particularly concerning because the product is widely deployed across enterprise and consumer environments. Applications that fail to properly validate input expose themselves to a wide range of attacks that can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers can craft malicious inputs to bypass security controls, execute unauthorized commands, access sensitive data, or crash systems. The impact varies from information disclosure to complete system compromise, often leading to significant financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage. Since input validation failures enable numerous other vulnerability classes, they represent one of the most fundamental and dangerous security weaknesses in software development. Organizations using affected versions should understand that this weakness class frequently enables reliable exploitation paths that threat actors actively leverage in both targeted and opportunistic attacks.
Impact Analysis
CVE-2012-1535 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 (HIGH) with the following impact characteristics.
Confidentiality (HIGH): An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains access to all data accessible by the affected component. In the context of Adobe Flash Player, this can include sensitive configuration data, user credentials, proprietary business information, and any data the application processes or stores.
Integrity (HIGH): Successful exploitation enables an attacker to modify, corrupt, or destroy data within the affected system. This includes the potential to tamper with system files, install backdoors or persistent malware, alter critical configurations, and manipulate application logic to serve malicious purposes.
Availability (HIGH): The vulnerability can be exploited to cause complete denial of service, rendering the affected system or application unavailable to legitimate users. System crashes, infinite loops, or resource exhaustion may persist until manual administrative intervention restores normal operation.
Scope (Unchanged): The exploitation impact is contained within the security scope of the vulnerable component itself. While the damage within that scope can be severe with full compromise of the affected application, lateral impact on other systems requires additional exploitation steps.
With an EPSS score of 0.91419 (99.66th percentile), this vulnerability ranks among the most likely to be exploited in the wild, placing it well above the vast majority of all cataloged vulnerabilities in terms of real-world exploitation activity.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2012-1535 demonstrates significant exploit maturity with confirmed active exploitation in the wild.
Active exploitation: This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming that it has been observed being actively exploited by threat actors. The KEV designation mandates federal agencies to apply remediation within a defined timeframe and serves as a strong signal of real-world risk.
Ransomware association: As of the current KEV catalog data, no direct ransomware association has been confirmed for CVE-2012-1535. However, the vulnerability's characteristics and confirmed exploitation in the wild mean it remains a viable vector for various threat actors including cybercriminals and advanced persistent threat groups.
Exploit availability: While specific public exploit code references were not identified in the NVD data, the vulnerability's inclusion in the KEV catalog confirms real-world exploitation. Threat intelligence sources and underground forums may host exploit tools not captured in public databases.
KEV remediation deadline: CISA set a remediation deadline of 2022-03-24 for federal agencies, underscoring the urgency of patching. Organizations beyond the federal sector should treat this deadline as a strong indicator of the risk level and prioritize remediation accordingly.
Remediation
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Apply vendor-provided security patches immediately. The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use. Consult the official security advisory for specific patch versions and deployment guidance.
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Verify affected product versions in your environment. Affected products include: Flash Player (< 11.3.300.271; < 11.2.202.238), Enterprise Linux Desktop (5.0), Enterprise Linux Server (5.0), Enterprise Linux Workstation (5.0), Opensuse (11.4; 12.1), Linux Enterprise Desktop (10). Conduct an inventory of all instances across your organization to ensure comprehensive patch coverage and prevent any unpatched systems from remaining exposed.
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Implement interim mitigations if immediate patching is not feasible. Educate users about the risk of opening untrusted files or documents. Implement application whitelisting and configure email gateways to block or quarantine suspicious attachments. Enable Protected View or sandboxed execution in document applications where available.
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Enable enhanced monitoring and detection. Configure intrusion detection systems and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2012-1535. Review security logs for indicators of compromise and establish alerting for anomalous behavior on systems running affected software.
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Conduct a post-patch vulnerability assessment. After applying patches, verify that the remediation was effective by running vulnerability scans against all previously affected systems. Confirm the vulnerability is no longer present and ensure no instances were missed during deployment.
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Review and update incident response procedures. Ensure your incident response plan accounts for potential exploitation of CVE-2012-1535. Document patching status and maintain evidence of remediation for compliance and audit purposes.
Technical Details
CVE-2012-1535 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Adobe Flash Player. Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via crafted SWF content.
Attack Vector: The attack vector is LOCAL, meaning exploitation requires the attacker to have local access to the target system or to trick a user into performing a local action such as opening a malicious file. While this limits remote exploitation, it remains highly exploitable through social engineering and phishing campaigns.
Attack Complexity: The attack complexity is LOW. Exploitation does not require specialized conditions, race conditions, or extensive preparation — making it accessible to a broad range of attackers including those with limited technical sophistication.
Prerequisites: No prior privileges are required. User interaction is required, typically involving a victim opening a specially crafted file, clicking a malicious link, or visiting a compromised website.
Underlying mechanism: The vulnerability stems from improper input validation, where improper input validation is a software weakness where a product receives input or data but does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties required to process data safely and correctly. In the context of Flash Player, this manifests when processing specially crafted input that triggers the underlying memory corruption or logic flaw, allowing the attacker to achieve code execution or other malicious outcomes.
Affected products: Flash Player (< 11.3.300.271; < 11.2.202.238), Enterprise Linux Desktop (5.0), Enterprise Linux Server (5.0), Enterprise Linux Workstation (5.0), Opensuse (11.4; 12.1), Linux Enterprise Desktop (10). Organizations should cross-reference their deployed versions against this list to assess their exposure to this vulnerability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2012-1535?
CVE-2012-1535 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) affecting Adobe Flash Player. Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via crafted SWF content. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild.
Which products are affected by CVE-2012-1535?
The vulnerability affects Adobe products including Flash Player. Affected versions include < 11.3.300.271; < 11.2.202.238. Organizations should consult the vendor's security advisory for the complete list of affected versions and available patches.
How do I fix CVE-2012-1535?
The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use. Refer to the official vendor security advisory for specific patch downloads and deployment instructions. If immediate patching is not possible, implement interim mitigations such as restricting access to the vulnerable component, enabling enhanced monitoring, and educating users about potential attack vectors. Verify remediation effectiveness with post-patch vulnerability scanning.
How severe is CVE-2012-1535?
CVE-2012-1535 is rated HIGH with a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8. Its EPSS score of 0.91419 places it in the 99.66th percentile for exploitation likelihood, meaning it is more likely to be exploited than 99.7% of all known vulnerabilities. The KEV remediation deadline was 2022-03-24, and the vulnerability's confirmed active exploitation makes it a high-priority remediation target. Organizations should treat patching as urgent regardless of whether they believe they are currently targeted.
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