CVE-2015-0316 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.269 and 14.x through 16.x before 16.0.0.305 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.442 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-0314, CVE-2015-0318, CVE-2015-0321, CVE-2015-0329, and CVE-2015-0330.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.269 on Windows and OS X, and versions 14.x through 16.x before 16.0.0.305 on the same platforms, as well as versions before 11.2.202.442 on Linux, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from other related issues such as CVE-2015-0314, CVE-2015-0318, CVE-2015-0321, CVE-2015-0329, and CVE-2015-0330, indicating that attackers could exploit unspecified vectors within the Flash Player runtime environment to compromise affected systems. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Flash Player's processing mechanisms, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common in memory corruption flaws. The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as Flash Player was widely deployed across enterprise and consumer environments, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to establish persistent access or cause system disruption. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability provides attackers with multiple exploitation pathways, including potential use of return-oriented programming or other advanced exploitation techniques that leverage the corrupted memory state to redirect execution flow. Organizations running affected versions of Flash Player faced significant risk of compromise, as the vulnerability could be triggered through malicious web content or specially crafted Flash files that would execute when viewed in a browser with Flash Player installed. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service scenarios where system resources could be exhausted or critical processes could be terminated. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability required immediate remediation through patch updates, as the attack vectors were relatively simple to exploit and the consequences could be severe. The specific nature of the memory corruption suggests that attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to bypass security controls such as DEP and ASLR, making it particularly dangerous in modern security environments where such protections are standard. The vulnerability also represents a significant concern for enterprise security teams as Flash Player was commonly enabled in corporate environments, creating widespread exposure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability would map to techniques involving execution through web browsers and privilege escalation, with potential use of exploit frameworks targeting the specific memory corruption patterns. The remediation approach required immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, as well as network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all instances of vulnerable Flash Player versions were updated, as the vulnerability could be exploited through legitimate web browsing activities. Security teams also needed to consider the broader implications of Flash Player's continued use, given its history of vulnerabilities and the industry-wide shift toward more secure web technologies. The vulnerability demonstrated the ongoing risks associated with legacy software components and highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all system components.