# CVE-2017-2988: Memory corruption in Adobe Flash Player 24.0.0.194 and earlier.

> An attacker can execute arbitrary code via a memory corruption flaw in Adobe Flash Player's garbage collection mechanism.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Feb 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4xf4-qc36-2g5v, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-2988

## What is CVE-2017-2988?

CVE-2017-2988 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player, published on 15 Feb 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Adobe Flash Player versions 24.0.0.194 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability when performing garbage collection. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-2988?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-2988?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-2988 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-2988 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Adobe Flash - SWF Stack Corruption (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player

- [CVE-2017-11292](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-11292/): Adobe Flash Player Type Confusion (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2016-7892](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7892/): Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2016-7855](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7855/): Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-0497](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0497/): Adobe Flash Player Integer Underflow Vulnerablity (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-0643](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0643/): Adobe Flash Player Incorrect Default Permissions (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-2988 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-2988 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player, published on 15 Feb 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-2988 exists.

Affected product: Adobe Flash Player. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-2988/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-2988/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-2988
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-2988
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-2988

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-2988/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.