CVE-2012-5054
Adobe Flash Player Integer Overflow Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2012-5054 is an integer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed arguments. The flaw occurs when Flash Player processes crafted content that triggers an integer overflow, leading to an undersized memory allocation followed by a buffer overflow and ultimately code execution. Adobe Flash Player has reached end-of-life and is no longer supported with security updates. CISA has added CVE-2012-5054 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and with an EPSS score of 76.6% (98th percentile), the risk of exploitation remains significant for any systems still running Flash Player.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | flash player | < 11.4.402.265 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.org/files/116435/Adobe-Flash-Player-Matrix3D-Integer-Overflow-Code-Execution.html(Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb12-19.html(Not Applicable, Vendor Advisory)
- http://www.vupen.com/english/services/ba-index.php(Broken Link)
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/78866(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2012-5054(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-190: Integer Overflow or Wraparound
CVE-2012-5054 exploits an integer overflow in Adobe Flash Player, where arithmetic operations on attacker-controlled input values produce results that exceed the integer type's maximum capacity, wrapping around to a small value. This undersized value is then used for memory allocation, resulting in a heap buffer that is too small for the subsequent data copy, enabling arbitrary code execution.
Learn more: CWE-190 — Integer Overflow or Wraparound
Impact Analysis
CVE-2012-5054 is remotely exploitable through malicious web content — an attacker needs only to direct a victim to a web page serving crafted Flash content. No authentication or special privileges are required, and the attack complexity is low. Successful exploitation leads to arbitrary code execution in the context of the Flash Player process, which can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. Since Flash Player often ran with the same privileges as the user's browser, exploitation could provide an attacker with full access to the user's data and system. The EPSS score of 76.6% (98th percentile) indicates a high probability of active exploitation, further compounded by the fact that Flash Player is end-of-life and receives no further security patches.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2012-5054 in the wild by adding it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on June 8, 2022. The EPSS score of 76.6% places this vulnerability in the 98th percentile, indicating a high probability of exploitation. As Adobe Flash Player reached end-of-life on December 31, 2020, no further security patches will be released, making any remaining Flash Player installations permanently vulnerable. The CISA required action explicitly states that the impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use. No specific ransomware association has been reported, but the remote code execution capability makes it suitable for various attack campaigns.
Remediation
- Remove Adobe Flash Player entirely: As the product is end-of-life and receives no security updates, the CISA required action states it should be disconnected if still in use. Uninstall Flash Player from all endpoints, servers, and browser configurations.
- Block Flash content at the network level: Configure web proxies, firewalls, and content filters to block SWF files and other Flash content from being delivered to any endpoint on the network.
- Audit systems for residual Flash installations: Conduct an enterprise-wide inventory to identify any systems that still have Flash Player installed, including legacy applications that may embed Flash Player components.
- Migrate legacy Flash-dependent applications: Identify any internal or external applications that rely on Flash Player and migrate them to modern web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript, or WebAssembly.
- Monitor for Flash-related process execution: Configure endpoint detection to alert on any execution of Flash Player binaries (e.g., FlashPlayerPlugin, PepperFlashPlayer) that may indicate incomplete removal or attempted exploitation.
Technical Details
CVE-2012-5054 is an integer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player triggered by malformed arguments in crafted Flash content. The vulnerability occurs when the Flash Player runtime performs arithmetic operations on attacker-supplied values that exceed the bounds of the target integer type, causing the value to wrap around to a small number. This wrapped value is then used as a size parameter for memory allocation, resulting in a heap buffer that is significantly smaller than expected. When Flash Player subsequently writes data to this undersized buffer based on the original (large) size value, a heap buffer overflow occurs, corrupting adjacent memory structures. An attacker can leverage this memory corruption to overwrite function pointers or heap metadata, redirecting execution to attacker-controlled code. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190, as the root cause is the absence of integer overflow checks before critical memory allocation operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2012-5054 being actively exploited?
Yes. CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2012-5054 by adding it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. With an EPSS score of 76.6% in the 98th percentile and Flash Player being end-of-life with no further patches, any remaining installations are at critical risk.
What products are affected by CVE-2012-5054?
CVE-2012-5054 affects Adobe Flash Player. The product reached end-of-life on December 31, 2020, and no longer receives security updates. All versions of Flash Player are considered vulnerable if the specific patch was not applied prior to end-of-life.
How do I fix CVE-2012-5054?
The most effective remediation is to completely remove Adobe Flash Player from all systems, as CISA explicitly recommends disconnecting end-of-life products. Block Flash content at the network level and migrate any remaining Flash-dependent applications to modern web technologies.
How severe is CVE-2012-5054?
CVE-2012-5054 is a highly severe vulnerability with an EPSS score in the 98th percentile, enabling arbitrary remote code execution through malicious Flash content. The severity is amplified by the product's end-of-life status, meaning no patches will ever be released to address this or any other Flash Player vulnerabilities.
Need Help With Vulnerability Management?
Our security experts can help you prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities effectively.