CVE-2013-0648
Adobe Flash Player Code Execution Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2013-0648 is a high-severity remote code execution vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player's ExternalInterface ActionScript functionality. The flaw affects Flash Player versions before 10.3.183.67 and 11.x before 11.6.602.171 on Windows and Mac OS X, and before 10.3.183.67 and 11.x before 11.2.202.273 on Linux. Actively exploited in the wild in February 2013 as a zero-day, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted SWF content. With a CVSS score of 8.8 and an EPSS probability of 54.67% (98.0th percentile), it was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of October 8, 2024.
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 | < 10.3.183.67; >= 11.0, < 11.6.602.171; >= 11.0, < 11.2.202.273 |
| opensuse | opensuse | 11.4; 12.1 |
| suse | linux enterprise desktop | 10; 11 |
| redhat | enterprise linux desktop | 6.0 |
| redhat | enterprise linux eus | 5.9; 6.4 |
| redhat | enterprise linux server | 6.0 |
| redhat | enterprise linux server aus | 5.9; 6.4 |
| redhat | enterprise linux workstation | 6.0 |
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://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-02/msg00025.html(Mailing List)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-02/msg00026.html(Mailing List)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-02/msg00035.html(Mailing List)
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0574.html(Third Party Advisory)
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb13-08.html(Broken Link, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2013-0648(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
No specific CWE has been assigned to CVE-2013-0648 by NVD. The vulnerability resides in the ExternalInterface ActionScript functionality of Adobe Flash Player. ExternalInterface is the mechanism that enables communication between Flash content (ActionScript) and the host environment (typically a web browser's JavaScript). The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious SWF files that exploit the ExternalInterface to bypass Flash Player's security sandbox and execute arbitrary code. The exact technical mechanism was not fully disclosed by Adobe, but the exploitation through ExternalInterface indicates a failure in the boundary between the Flash runtime and the browser environment, allowing controlled data to escape the intended execution context and achieve code execution at the operating system level.
Impact Analysis
The exploitation of CVE-2013-0648 carries severe consequences for affected users. Confidentiality is fully compromised, enabling attackers to steal session tokens, browser cookies, cached credentials, and any data accessible to the user's account on the system. Integrity is completely affected, allowing installation of malware, modification of system files, creation of backdoor accounts, and tampering with browser configuration. Availability faces high risk as attackers can deploy destructive payloads, crash the browser or system, and install persistent malware that degrades system performance.
The attack requires user interaction — a victim must visit a webpage hosting the malicious SWF content — but this was effectively weaponized through targeted attacks in February 2013. The EPSS score of 54.67% (98.0th percentile) reflects the significant exploitation history of this vulnerability. The zero-day exploitation confirms that advanced threat actors had working exploits before any patch was available. The KEV entry lists ransomware association as "Unknown." Flash Player's ExternalInterface is a particularly valuable attack vector because it bridges the gap between Flash's sandbox and the browser, making sandbox escape a natural consequence of exploitation.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2013-0648 was actively exploited as a zero-day in February 2013, representing fully mature exploitation. CISA confirmed the active exploitation by adding it to the KEV catalog with a remediation deadline of October 8, 2024. The EPSS score of 54.67% (98.0th percentile) indicates continued relevance in the threat landscape. The vulnerability was disclosed alongside CVE-2013-0643 (a related Firefox sandbox restriction bypass) in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB13-08, suggesting that attackers combined both flaws for a complete exploit chain — using CVE-2013-0643 to weaken sandbox restrictions and CVE-2013-0648 to achieve code execution through ExternalInterface. The ransomware association is listed as "Unknown" in the KEV catalog. While Flash Player has reached end of life, any legacy installations remain vulnerable to existing exploit toolkits that incorporate this vulnerability.
Remediation
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Remove Adobe Flash Player entirely from all systems. Flash Player reached end of life on December 31, 2020, and no further security updates will be released. Use Adobe's official uninstaller or your operating system's package manager to completely remove all Flash components.
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Verify Flash is removed from all browsers including legacy browser installations. Check browser plugin directories and extensions for any remaining Flash Player components. Modern browsers have removed Flash support, but older browser installations in enterprise environments may retain the plugin.
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Audit enterprise applications for Flash dependencies and create a migration plan to replace Flash-based components with HTML5, WebAssembly, or other modern alternatives. Prioritize applications that are accessible from external networks or handle sensitive data.
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Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting Flash Player execution and SWF file processing. Configure alerts for any Flash-related process activity on systems where complete removal has not yet been achieved.
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Block SWF file downloads at the network perimeter using web proxies, email gateways, and content filtering systems. Configure DNS-level blocking for known malicious domains that historically served Flash exploits to provide defense-in-depth protection.
Technical Details
CVE-2013-0648 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (High) with the vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. The vector analysis shows: Attack Vector (AV:N) confirms network-based exploitation through web content. Attack Complexity (AC:L) indicates the exploit is reliable and requires no special conditions. Privileges Required (PR:N) means no authentication is needed from the attacker. User Interaction (UI:R) requires the victim to visit a page containing the malicious SWF file. Scope (S:U) indicates the impact remains within the Flash Player/user session context. Confidentiality (C:H), Integrity (I:H), and Availability (A:H) are all rated High, indicating full system compromise at the user's privilege level.
The attack exploits a vulnerability in Flash Player's ExternalInterface, which is the ActionScript API for bidirectional communication between Flash content and the hosting web page's JavaScript. The attacker creates a crafted SWF file that invokes ExternalInterface in a way that triggers the underlying vulnerability, corrupting memory or bypassing security checks. This was used in combination with CVE-2013-0643, which weakened the Firefox sandbox restrictions for Flash Player. The combined exploit chain first relaxes sandbox enforcement through the permission bypass and then leverages the ExternalInterface vulnerability to execute arbitrary code outside the Flash sandbox, gaining full access to the underlying operating system with the current user's privileges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2013-0648?
CVE-2013-0648 is a remote code execution vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player's ExternalInterface ActionScript functionality. Exploited as a zero-day in February 2013, it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by tricking users into viewing malicious Flash content.
How was this vulnerability exploited in the wild?
The vulnerability was exploited in targeted attacks in February 2013, typically in combination with CVE-2013-0643 (a Flash Player sandbox bypass). Attackers created malicious SWF files embedded in web pages that, when viewed, exploited both vulnerabilities to break out of Flash's security sandbox and execute code on the victim's system.
Is Adobe Flash Player still a security risk if installed?
Yes, extremely so. Flash Player reached end of life in December 2020 and receives no security updates. Any system with Flash Player still installed is vulnerable to this and hundreds of other unpatched vulnerabilities. Complete removal is the only effective remediation.
What is ExternalInterface in Flash Player?
ExternalInterface is the ActionScript API that enables Flash content to communicate with JavaScript in the hosting web page and vice versa. It serves as a bridge between the Flash runtime and the browser, making vulnerabilities in this component particularly dangerous as they can facilitate sandbox escape.
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