CVE-2015-0317 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 by leveraging an unspecified "type confusion," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-0319.
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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, along with versions before 11.2.202.442 on Linux, contained a critical type confusion vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of data types within the Flash Player runtime environment, specifically when processing maliciously crafted content that exploits memory management flaws. The issue represents a classic type confusion flaw where the application incorrectly handles objects of different types, leading to unpredictable behavior when the runtime attempts to access memory locations with incorrect assumptions about data structure layouts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the CWE-468 category of "Incorrect Pointer Scaling" and more specifically aligns with CWE-476 which addresses "NULL Pointer Dereference" and CWE-121 which covers "Stack-based Buffer Overflow". This type confusion allows attackers to manipulate the Flash Player's memory management system by forcing the application to treat data as if it were of one type when it was actually of another. The attack vector typically involves delivering malicious Flash content through web browsers or other applications that embed Flash Player functionality, where the malicious payload exploits the type confusion to overwrite critical memory structures or execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to achieve complete system compromise without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a malicious document containing embedded Flash content. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because Flash Player runs with elevated privileges in many environments and can access system resources, files, and network connections. The exploitability of this vulnerability has been demonstrated in the wild, with various attack campaigns leveraging the type confusion to deliver malware payloads including information stealers, backdoors, and other malicious software. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability's exploitation often requires sophisticated techniques to achieve reliable code execution due to modern exploit mitigations, but successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including disabling Flash Player entirely where possible, applying the vendor patches released in versions 13.0.0.269, 16.0.0.305, and 11.2.202.442 respectively, and deploying network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious Flash content. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized Flash Player execution, while security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic" and T1203 for "Exploitation for Client Execution" highlights the multi-stage attack approach that attackers typically employ when leveraging such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include verification of Flash Player configurations and patch status to ensure comprehensive protection against this and similar type confusion vulnerabilities that continue to pose significant risks to enterprise environments.