CVE-2014-8439
Adobe Flash Player Dereferenced Pointer Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2014-8439 is a remote code execution vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player caused by improper handling of a dereferenced memory pointer. When Flash Player processes specially crafted content, the flawed pointer handling leads to memory corruption that allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. This Adobe Flash Player vulnerability can be triggered through malicious web content, making it exploitable through drive-by download attacks. CISA has listed CVE-2014-8439 in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation, and its EPSS percentile of 96.3% indicates a very high probability of exploitation activity. The impacted product is end-of-life and should be removed.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorCWEs
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | flash player | <= 11.2.202.418; <= 15.0.0.223; <= 13.0.0.252 |
| adobe | air | <= 15.0.0.292 |
| adobe | air sdk | <= 15.0.0.301 |
| adobe | air sdk \& compiler | < 15.0.0.302 |
References
- http://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb14-22.html(Vendor Advisory)
- http://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb14-26.html(Vendor Advisory)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-11/msg00020.html(Third Party Advisory)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-12/msg00001.html(Third Party Advisory)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-12/msg00004.html(Third Party Advisory)
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-1915.html(Vendor Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/60217(Permissions Required)
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/71289(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1031259(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/98932(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00002768.html(Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2014-8439(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
No specific CWE has been assigned to CVE-2014-8439 in the NVD database. The vulnerability involves improper handling of a dereferenced memory pointer in Adobe Flash Player. When the Flash runtime processes crafted content, it dereferences a pointer that points to invalid or attacker-controlled memory, leading to a condition where the program operates on corrupted data. This type of vulnerability, related to improper pointer validation, can result in arbitrary code execution when the attacker controls the memory at the dereferenced address.
Learn more: CWE Overview
Impact Analysis
CVE-2014-8439 enables remote code execution through improper pointer handling in Adobe Flash Player. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable through malicious Flash content embedded in web pages, requiring no authentication and only that a user visits a page with the crafted content. Confidentiality (High): Successful exploitation grants the attacker access to all data accessible by the browser process, including session cookies, cached credentials, and user files. Integrity (High): Code execution allows the attacker to install persistent malware, modify system files, and establish backdoor access. Availability (High): The compromised system can be enrolled in botnets, used for cryptomining, or rendered inoperable through destructive payloads. With an EPSS percentile of 96.3%, this vulnerability has a very high probability of active exploitation, particularly concerning because Flash Player is end-of-life and will receive no further patches.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2014-8439 by listing it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with the note that the impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use. The EPSS percentile of 96.3% indicates a very high likelihood of exploitation activity. Flash Player pointer handling vulnerabilities were commonly incorporated into exploit kits used for large-scale drive-by download campaigns, and the end-of-life status means any remaining Flash Player installations are permanently exposed to this and other unpatched vulnerabilities.
Remediation
- Remove Adobe Flash Player entirely from all systems. As stated in the CISA KEV required action, the impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use. Adobe ended Flash Player support on December 31, 2020.
- Remove Flash Player browser plugins from all browsers across the organization. Modern browsers have removed Flash support, but legacy installations may retain the plugin.
- Migrate Flash-dependent applications and content to modern web technologies including HTML5, WebAssembly, and JavaScript.
- Block Flash content at the network perimeter using web proxies and content filtering to prevent SWF files from being downloaded and executed on any system.
- Conduct an enterprise-wide audit for remaining Flash Player installations using endpoint management and software inventory tools to ensure complete removal.
Technical Details
CVE-2014-8439 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player caused by improper handling of a dereferenced memory pointer. The flaw occurs when the Flash runtime encounters a pointer that references memory in an invalid state. When the runtime dereferences this pointer and operates on the data at the referenced address, it reads or writes to memory that may have been freed, reallocated, or is otherwise in an unexpected state. The attacker can manipulate the heap layout through carefully crafted Flash content to ensure that the dereferenced pointer points to attacker-controlled data, enabling redirection of program execution to arbitrary code. Flash Player's complex runtime environment with its ActionScript virtual machine, JIT compiler, and garbage collector creates numerous scenarios where pointer validity can be compromised, making this class of vulnerability particularly common in Flash Player's history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2014-8439 being actively exploited?
Yes, CVE-2014-8439 is actively exploited. CISA confirmed its inclusion in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and noted that the product is end-of-life. The EPSS percentile of 96.3% indicates very high exploitation probability.
What products are affected by CVE-2014-8439?
CVE-2014-8439 affects Adobe Flash Player. The product reached end-of-life on December 31, 2020, and no longer receives security updates. Any remaining installations are permanently vulnerable.
How do I fix CVE-2014-8439?
Completely remove Adobe Flash Player from all systems and browsers. Since the product is end-of-life, no patches are available. Migrate Flash-dependent content to modern web technologies and block Flash content at network boundaries.
How severe is CVE-2014-8439?
CVE-2014-8439 is a remote code execution vulnerability with an EPSS percentile of 96.3%, indicating very high exploitation probability. The severity is compounded by the end-of-life status of Flash Player, meaning the vulnerability will never be patched and any remaining installation remains permanently exploitable.
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