CVE-2015-0324 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2022
Adobe Flash Player contains a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that affects multiple versions across different operating systems. This vulnerability exists in the way Flash Player handles certain data structures during processing, creating an opportunity for attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code. The flaw manifests in versions prior to 13.0.0.269 for Flash Player 13.x and 14.x through 16.x for Flash Player 16.x on windows and os x platforms, as well as in versions before 11.2.202.442 on linux systems. The unspecified vectors suggest that the overflow can be triggered through various attack scenarios including malformed flash content delivered via web browsers or malicious websites.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow places it squarely within the scope of common weakness enumeration cwe-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions. This vulnerability represents a classic memory corruption flaw that allows attackers to manipulate program execution flow by overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable privilege escalation attacks, particularly when the vulnerable flash player process runs with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects the core rendering and processing capabilities of flash player, making it a prime target for exploitation in web-based attack campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote code execution without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in modern browser environments where flash content is frequently encountered. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through drive-by downloads or malicious websites that serve specially crafted flash content designed to trigger the buffer overflow. The exploitation typically involves crafting malicious swf files or web content that when processed by the vulnerable flash player causes memory corruption. This enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the flash player process, potentially leading to complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory updates to the latest supported versions of Adobe Flash Player, which address this vulnerability through proper bounds checking and memory management. Security teams should also consider implementing browser security controls such as disabling flash content entirely or using sandboxing techniques to limit potential impact. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious flash content. Additionally, monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns or process execution behaviors that may indicate exploitation attempts should be implemented. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping multimedia plugins updated and demonstrates the ongoing risks associated with legacy software components in enterprise environments. This issue aligns with attack techniques documented in the mitre attack framework under execution and privilege escalation tactics, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls beyond simple patch management.