CVE-2015-0318 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-2015-0316, CVE-2015-0321, CVE-2015-0329, and CVE-2015-0330.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2025
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.269 for Windows and OS X, and versions 14.x through 16.x before 16.0.0.305 for 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 represented a distinct threat vector from other contemporaneous Flash Player flaws including CVE-2015-0314, CVE-2015-0316, CVE-2015-0321, CVE-2015-0329, and CVE-2015-0330, indicating that attackers could exploit this specific memory corruption issue to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt service availability. The vulnerability stemmed from improper memory handling within the Flash Player runtime environment, specifically in how the software managed memory allocation and deallocation during content processing. This flaw falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which encompasses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The technical nature of this vulnerability allowed attackers to craft malicious Flash content that would trigger memory corruption when processed by the vulnerable Flash Player versions, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the Flash Player application. The impact extended beyond simple exploitation to include denial of service scenarios where system stability could be compromised through memory corruption attacks. According to the attack pattern taxonomy, this vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments, as attackers typically delivered malicious Flash content through email attachments or web pages. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because Flash Player was widely deployed across enterprise environments and consumer systems, making it an attractive target for adversaries seeking to establish persistent access or disrupt operations. Organizations running affected Flash Player versions faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be exploited through web browsers or any application that integrated Flash content. The memory corruption nature of the flaw meant that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, potentially allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or maintain persistent access to compromised systems. System administrators needed to implement immediate patching strategies to address this vulnerability, as the timeframe between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation by threat actors was typically very short. The affected versions represented a broad range of Flash Player releases, requiring comprehensive inventory assessment and remediation across multiple platforms including Windows, OS X, and Linux operating systems. Security teams needed to prioritize this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks due to the widespread use of Flash Player and the potential for remote code execution. The remediation approach required careful consideration of compatibility issues, as many enterprise applications relied on Flash content for critical business processes. Organizations should have implemented network-based protections including web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent access to malicious Flash content until proper patches were deployed. The vulnerability highlighted the broader security challenges associated with legacy software components and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for all software applications, particularly those with broad deployment and high privilege execution contexts.