CVE-2015-0320 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in 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 via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-0313, CVE-2015-0315, and CVE-2015-0322.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2022
The CVE-2015-0320 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player that affected multiple version ranges across different operating systems. This vulnerability resides in the memory management mechanisms of the Flash Player runtime environment, specifically within the way it handles object references and memory deallocation processes. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to access memory that has already been freed, creating a potential exploitation vector for malicious actors. The vulnerability impacts Windows and OS X systems running Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.269 and 14.x through 16.x before 16.0.0.305, while Linux systems were affected before version 11.2.202.442. This particular vulnerability operates independently from other related issues such as CVE-2015-0313, CVE-2015-0315, and CVE-2015-0322, indicating distinct code paths and exploitation methods.
The technical nature of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Flash Player's ActionScript runtime environment. When certain objects are destroyed or freed from memory, the application fails to properly invalidate references to those objects, allowing subsequent code execution to access the now-invalid memory locations. This creates a condition where attackers can manipulate the memory state to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The unspecified vectors of exploitation suggest that multiple attack surfaces within the Flash Player application could trigger this memory corruption issue, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various user interactions or content loading scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0320 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems. This capability allows threat actors to bypass traditional security measures, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed Flash Player versions across multiple platforms means that organizations with legacy systems or delayed patch management could face significant risk exposure. The use-after-free condition creates a reliable exploitation opportunity that can be leveraged through web-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently browse the internet or interact with rich media content.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patching of affected Flash Player versions to mitigate this vulnerability. Adobe released security updates addressing CVE-2015-0320 in their respective patch releases, and organizations must ensure all systems are updated to versions 13.0.0.269, 16.0.0.305, or 11.2.202.442 respectively for each platform. Additional mitigations include implementing browser security controls, disabling Flash Player where possible, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation of known vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, potentially enabling adversaries to establish persistence and move laterally within compromised networks. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted Flash content and maintain comprehensive monitoring for suspicious activity related to Flash Player memory corruption.