CVE-2014-0497
Adobe Flash Player Integer Underflow Vulnerablity
Description
CVE-2014-0497 is a critical integer underflow vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code without any user interaction. Affecting Flash Player versions before 11.7.700.261 and 11.8.x through 12.0.x before 12.0.0.44 on Windows and Mac OS X, and before 11.2.202.336 on Linux, this flaw carries a CVSS score of 9.8. With an EPSS probability of 93.02% (99.8th percentile), it is among the most actively exploited vulnerabilities. CISA has included it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of October 8, 2024, and public exploit code is readily available.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | flash player | < 11.2.202.336; < 11.7.700.261; >= 11.8.800.94, < 12.0.0.44 |
| chrome | < 32.0.1700.107 | |
| redhat | enterprise linux desktop | 5.0; 6.0 |
| redhat | enterprise linux eus | 6.5 |
| redhat | enterprise linux server | 5.0; 6.0 |
| redhat | enterprise linux server aus | 6.5 |
| redhat | enterprise linux workstation | 5.0; 6.0 |
| opensuse | opensuse | 11.4; 12.3; 13.1 |
| suse | linux enterprise desktop | 11 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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://googlechromereleases.blogspot.com/2014/02/stable-channel-update.html(Release Notes)
- http://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb14-04.html(Broken Link, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-02/msg00000.html(Mailing List)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-02/msg00001.html(Mailing List)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-02/msg00006.html(Mailing List)
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-0137.html(Third Party Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/56437(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/56737(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/56780(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/56799(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/56839(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory)
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/33212(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.osvdb.org/102849(Broken Link)
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/65327(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1029715(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/90884(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2014-0497(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
No specific CWE has been assigned to CVE-2014-0497 by NVD. The vulnerability is an integer underflow in Adobe Flash Player. An integer underflow occurs when an arithmetic operation produces a result smaller than the minimum value the integer type can hold, causing the value to wrap around to a very large positive number. In Flash Player's case, this integer underflow leads to an incorrect buffer size calculation, resulting in a heap-based buffer overflow when the undersized buffer is subsequently used to store data. The corrupted memory state allows an attacker to overwrite critical data structures, redirect execution flow, and achieve arbitrary code execution. Integer underflow vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they silently produce incorrect values that pass typical validation checks, making them difficult to detect through standard code review.
Impact Analysis
The impact of CVE-2014-0497 is catastrophic across all security dimensions, amplified by its maximum exploitability characteristics. Confidentiality is completely compromised, allowing attackers to access any data the Flash Player process can reach, including browser session data, cached credentials, cryptographic keys stored in memory, and any files accessible to the user account. Integrity is fully affected, enabling installation of rootkits, modification of system binaries, creation of rogue accounts, and persistent backdoor implantation. Availability faces total risk as attackers gain arbitrary code execution capable of destroying data, encrypting files for ransomware, or rendering the system inoperable.
Unlike many Flash vulnerabilities that require user interaction, CVE-2014-0497 is scored with no user interaction required (UI:N) and no privileges required (PR:N), giving it the maximum CVSS base score of 9.8. The EPSS score of 93.02% (99.8th percentile) confirms near-certain exploitation activity. A public exploit is available on Exploit-DB (ID 33212), making the vulnerability accessible to a broad range of attackers. The KEV entry lists ransomware association as "Unknown," but the combination of critical severity, public exploits, and zero user interaction makes this a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2014-0497 has reached maximum exploit maturity with publicly available exploit code and confirmed active exploitation. CISA's inclusion in the KEV catalog with a deadline of October 8, 2024, confirms ongoing exploitation concerns. The EPSS score of 93.02% (99.8th percentile) reflects extremely high exploitation activity. A complete public exploit is available on Exploit-DB (ID 33212), providing ready-to-use attack code that significantly lowers the barrier to exploitation. Google Chrome also issued an emergency update to address the Flash vulnerability bundled with Chrome, as documented in the Chrome Stable Channel Update. The ransomware association is listed as "Unknown" in the KEV catalog, but the critical severity, public exploit availability, and no-interaction exploitation make this vulnerability highly suitable for both targeted and opportunistic attacks. Adobe released an emergency out-of-band patch for this vulnerability, underscoring its severity.
Remediation
-
Remove Adobe Flash Player entirely from all systems, as it reached end of life on December 31, 2020. No further security patches are available. Use Adobe's official uninstaller on Windows and Mac, or system package managers on Linux to completely remove all Flash Player components.
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Update Google Chrome to version 32.0.1700.107 or later if running legacy Chrome versions that bundled Flash Player. Modern Chrome versions have removed Flash support entirely, but verify by navigating to
chrome://componentsto confirm no Flash component is present. -
Remove Flash Player from enterprise systems at scale using software management tools such as SCCM, Intune, or configuration management platforms. Create detection rules that identify any remaining Flash Player installations and automate removal across the organization.
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Block SWF content at network boundaries by configuring web proxies, firewalls, and email gateways to block the download and execution of SWF files. This provides defense-in-depth for any systems where Flash removal has not yet been completed.
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Audit third-party applications that may embed their own Flash runtime rather than relying on the system-installed Flash Player. Some enterprise applications bundle Flash independently, creating a hidden attack surface that persists even after the standalone Flash Player is removed.
Technical Details
CVE-2014-0497 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (Critical) with the vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. This is the maximum exploitability rating. Attack Vector (AV:N) confirms network exploitation. Attack Complexity (AC:L) means no special conditions or timing requirements exist. Privileges Required (PR:N) indicates no authentication is needed. User Interaction (UI:N) is the critical distinction from many other Flash vulnerabilities — this flaw can be exploited without any user action, potentially through embedded content or automated processing of Flash files. Scope (S:U) indicates impact within the Flash Player context. Confidentiality (C:H), Integrity (I:H), and Availability (A:H) are all High.
The attack exploits an integer underflow in Adobe Flash Player's processing of specific multimedia content. The integer underflow occurs during a size calculation, where the result wraps to an extremely large positive integer value. This incorrect value is then used as a buffer allocation size or loop counter, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow. The attacker manipulates the heap layout prior to triggering the overflow, placing controlled data at predictable memory locations. When the overflow occurs, it overwrites function pointers or virtual method table entries, redirecting execution to attacker-controlled shellcode. The no-user-interaction exploitation vector suggests that the vulnerability can be triggered through embedded Flash content that auto-plays or through server-side Flash processing, making it exploitable in scenarios beyond traditional browser-based attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2014-0497?
CVE-2014-0497 is a critical integer underflow vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player that leads to arbitrary code execution. Unlike many Flash vulnerabilities, it can be exploited without any user interaction, earning the maximum CVSS exploitability score of 9.8.
Why is this vulnerability rated higher than other Flash Player vulnerabilities?
Most Flash Player vulnerabilities require user interaction (visiting a malicious page), resulting in a CVSS score of 8.8. CVE-2014-0497 is rated 9.8 because it requires no user interaction (UI:N) and no privileges (PR:N), meaning it can potentially be exploited through automated Flash content processing or embedded objects without active user engagement.
Is there public exploit code available?
Yes, a complete exploit is publicly available on Exploit-DB (ID 33212). This significantly lowers the barrier to exploitation and means that even less sophisticated attackers can leverage this vulnerability against unpatched systems.
What should organizations do about legacy Flash Player installations?
Organizations must prioritize complete removal of Flash Player from all systems. Flash reached end of life in December 2020, and no security patches are available. Use enterprise software management tools to detect and remove Flash across the organization, and block SWF content at network boundaries as a defense-in-depth measure.
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