CVE-2014-0540
Description
Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.241 and 14.x before 14.0.0.176 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.400 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 14.0.0.178 on Windows and OS X and before 14.0.0.179 on Android, Adobe AIR SDK before 14.0.0.178, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 14.0.0.178 do not properly restrict discovery of memory addresses, which allows attackers to bypass the ASLR protection mechanism via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-0542, CVE-2014-0543, CVE-2014-0544, and CVE-2014-0545.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.241/14.0.0.176 on Windows/OS X and before 11.2.202.400 on Linux fails to restrict memory address discovery, allowing ASLR bypass.
Vulnerability
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.241 and 14.x before 14.0.0.176 on Windows and OS X, as well as versions before 11.2.202.400 on Linux, along with Adobe AIR versions before 14.0.0.178 on Windows/OS X and before 14.0.0.179 on Android, and affected AIR SDK/SDK & Compiler versions, improperly restrict the discovery of memory addresses. This flaw allows attackers to bypass the Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) protection mechanism via unspecified vectors [1].
Exploitation
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by delivering a crafted SWF file or other Flash content to a user. No authentication or special network position beyond reaching the user is required; the attack relies on user interaction (e.g., visiting a malicious website or opening a malicious file). The exploit vector involves unspecified steps that leverage the improper restriction to reveal memory addresses, thereby bypassing ASLR [1].
Impact
Successful exploitation enables an attacker to bypass the ASLR security mitigation. While this alone does not directly provide code execution, it significantly facilitates further attacks (such as remote code execution or information disclosure) that rely on knowing memory layouts. The Gentoo advisory notes that multiple vulnerabilities in Flash Player could allow arbitrary code execution or denial of service [1].
Mitigation
Adobe released fixed versions: Flash Player 13.0.0.241/14.0.0.176 (Windows/OS X) and 11.2.202.400 (Linux), AIR 14.0.0.178/14.0.0.179, and corresponding SDK updates on 2014-08-12. Gentoo recommends upgrading to the patched version (>=www-plugins/adobe-flash-11.2.202.400) as no workaround is available [1].
AI Insight generated on May 23, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected products
47cpe:2.3:a:adobe:adobe_air:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*+ 4 more
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:adobe_air:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*range: <=14.0.0.137
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:adobe_air:13.0.0.111:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:adobe_air:13.0.0.83:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:adobe_air:14.0.0.110:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- (no CPE)range: <14.0.0.178 (Windows/OS X) || <14.0.0.179 (Android)
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:adobe_air_sdk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*+ 3 more
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:adobe_air_sdk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*range: <=14.0.0.137
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:adobe_air_sdk:13.0.0.111:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:adobe_air_sdk:13.0.0.83:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:adobe_air_sdk:14.0.0.110:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*+ 35 more
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*range: <=13.0.0.231
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.223:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.228:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.233:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.235:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.236:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.238:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.243:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.251:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.258:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.261:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.262:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.270:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.273:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.275:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.280:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.285:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.291:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.297:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.310:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.332:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.335:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.336:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.341:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.346:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.350:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.356:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.359:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:11.2.202.378:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:13.0.0.182:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:13.0.0.201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:13.0.0.206:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:13.0.0.214:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:13.0.0.223:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:14.0.0.125:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:14.0.0.145:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- Range: <13.0.0.241 || (>=14.0.0 <14.0.0.176) || <11.2.202.400 (Linux)
- Range: <14.0.0.178
Patches
0No patches discovered yet.
Vulnerability mechanics
AI mechanics synthesis has not run for this CVE yet.
References
5News mentions
0No linked articles in our index yet.