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Multiple Flash Authoring Heap Overflows - Malformed SWF Files

Vendor Website: http://www.adobe.com

Affected Versions:
Adobe Flash Professional CS3/Flash MX2004

Vendor Notified. July 2008
Public Disclosure. October 16th 2008

Researcher: Paul Craig - paul.craig <at> security-assessment.com

http://www.security-assessment.com/files/advisories/2008-10-16_Multiple_Flash_Authoring_Heap_Overflows.pdf
http://www.adobe.com/go/apsa08-09

============================ Overview ==================================

During analysis of the SWF file format used by commercial Flash authoring
applications multiple heap overflows were discovered within Adobe Flash
CS3 Professional, and Adobe Flash MX 2004.

Heap overflow conditions occurred when opening or importing malformed .SWF
files within the Flash authoring applications.

Exploitable conditions were related to excessively long control parameters
within an SWF file, which resulted in a heap overflow condition.

Exploitation of the heap overflow conditions would allow a malicious user
to gain command execution on the system which opened the file.

Only the Flash authoring software was found to insecurely parse malformed
.SWF files.

The Flash player was NOT found to be vulnerable to these specific attacks.

=========================== Solutions ==================================

A patch has been released from Adobe to address this vulnerability within CS3.
Additionally Adobe Flash CS4 has been officially released which resolves
these particular vulnerabilities.

============================ Credit ====================================

Discovered and advised to Adobe in July 2008 by Paul Craig of Security-Assessment.com

======================== About Security-Assessment.com =================

Security-Assessment.com is Australasia's leading team of Information Security consultants
specialising in providing high quality Information Security services to clients throughout
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Paul Craig
Principal Security Consultant
Security-Assessment.com