CVE-2010-1297 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 9.0.277.0 and 10.x before 10.1.53.64, as well as Adobe AIR before 2.0.2.12610 and Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3.3. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) through crafted SWF content. It was actively exploited in the wild starting in June 2010.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access and data compromise due to the ability of attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely.
Given its exploitation status, organizations should prioritize remediation efforts to protect their systems. The urgency for defenders is critical, as the affected products are end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use.
Organizations using these affected versions must take immediate action to mitigate risks associated with CVE-2010-1297.
Vulnerability Details
Adobe Flash Player before 9.0.277.0 and 10.x before 10.1.53.64; Adobe AIR before 2.0.2.12610; and Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3.3, and 8.x before 8.2.3 on Windows and Mac OS X, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via crafted SWF content, related to authplay.dll and the ActionScript Virtual Machine 2 (AVM2) newfunction instruction, as exploited in the wild in June 2010.
This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8, indicating a high severity, which means that it poses a significant risk to affected systems. The vulnerability type is classified under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write).
The affected products include Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR, Adobe Acrobat, and other components on Windows and Mac OS X platforms.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2010-1297 lies in the improper handling of crafted SWF content by the affected Adobe software. Specifically, the vulnerability is associated with the authplay.dll and the ActionScript Virtual Machine 2 (AVM2) newfunction instruction, which can lead to memory corruption.
The attack vector for this vulnerability can be classified as local since user interaction is required to exploit it, such as opening a malicious SWF file. The attack complexity is considered low, as it does not require extensive technical skills to execute.
In terms of impact, the vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability, all categorized as high. Successful exploitation can result in the complete compromise of the affected system.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes the potential for unauthorized code execution, which can lead to significant data breaches and service disruptions. As the vulnerability is actively exploited, the blast radius can be extensive, affecting multiple systems that utilize the vulnerable components.
Given the high CVSS score and its inclusion in the KEV catalog, organizations should prioritize patching immediately. Failure to address this vulnerability could result in severe consequences, including loss of sensitive data and operational disruptions.
With an EPSS score of 0.928, indicating a 99.76 percentile, organizations should be especially vigilant, as the likelihood of exploitation remains high.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions are affected by CVE-2010-1297:
Adobe Flash Player: All versions prior to 9.0.277.0 and 10.x before 10.1.53.64; Adobe AIR: All versions prior to 2.0.2.12610; Adobe Reader and Acrobat: 9.x before 9.3.3 and 8.x before 8.2.3. Additionally, various versions of Linux distributions such as openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise are also impacted.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The impacted products have reached end-of-life, and users are advised to disconnect these applications if still in use. For those who cannot upgrade immediately, mitigating controls should be implemented to minimize potential exposure.
For detailed guidance on security testing and vulnerability management, organizations can refer to our penetration testing services that can help identify and mitigate similar vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor for unusual behaviors in application logs, including unexpected crashes or memory access violations associated with Adobe products. Network signatures indicating exploitation attempts should also be analyzed, alongside system changes that may indicate successful exploitation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2010-1297 represents a significant vulnerability in legacy software that is no longer supported. It highlights the ongoing risks associated with using outdated applications in a modern threat landscape.
Security teams should learn from this incident and ensure that legacy systems are properly managed and isolated. For further insights into vulnerability management, organizations can refer to our vulnerability management program design and implementation strategies.
Additionally, organizations should consider reviewing their application security measures with our penetration testing methodology to enhance their defenses against such vulnerabilities.
Finally, understanding the broader implications of vulnerabilities like CVE-2010-1297 can be crucial for developing strategic defensive measures. Organizations are encouraged to stay updated on security trends and protect their systems against similar threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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