CVE-2015-0325 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 cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-0326 and CVE-2015-0328.
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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 vulnerability that enabled attackers to trigger a NULL pointer dereference condition resulting in denial of service or potentially more severe impacts. This vulnerability represented a distinct threat vector from CVE-2015-0326 and CVE-2015-0328, demonstrating the complex nature of Flash Player security flaws that could be exploited through multiple attack surfaces. The vulnerability stemmed from improper input validation and memory management within the Flash Player runtime environment, specifically in how it handled certain malformed or unexpected data structures during content rendering processes. The NULL pointer dereference occurred when the player attempted to access memory locations that were not properly initialized, creating a condition where the application would crash or become unresponsive. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference issues, representing a fundamental flaw in software design that can lead to system instability and potential exploitation for more advanced attacks. The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it could potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges depending on the execution context and system configuration. Attackers could craft malicious Flash content or manipulate existing content to trigger this condition, making it particularly dangerous in web browsing environments where Flash content was commonly encountered. The vulnerability was particularly concerning due to Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise environments and consumer systems, creating a large attack surface that could be exploited across multiple operating systems and platform versions. Security researchers noted that the complexity of the Flash Player architecture and its extensive use of native code increased the difficulty of patching such vulnerabilities while maintaining backward compatibility with existing content. Organizations that had not yet updated to the patched versions of Flash Player remained at significant risk of exploitation, particularly in environments where users frequently encountered untrusted Flash content from various sources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability was characterized by its ability to cause system instability through improper memory access patterns that were not adequately protected against in the Flash Player runtime. The vulnerability exploited the player's handling of specific data structures that, when processed through the multimedia rendering pipeline, would result in a NULL pointer being dereferenced rather than properly validated before access. This particular flaw represented a class of memory corruption vulnerabilities that could potentially be chained with other exploits to achieve more sophisticated attack objectives. The attack vector typically involved delivering malicious Flash content through web browsers or other applications that embedded Flash Player functionality, allowing the vulnerability to be triggered without requiring user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior. The lack of specific details about the exact triggering conditions in the initial vulnerability description highlighted the complexity of the underlying issue and suggested that multiple code paths within Flash Player could potentially lead to similar outcomes. Security analysts emphasized that such vulnerabilities were particularly dangerous because they could be exploited in the wild without requiring specialized knowledge or tools, making them attractive targets for automated attack frameworks. The vulnerability's potential for unspecified other impacts indicated that while the primary effect was denial of service, the underlying memory corruption could potentially be leveraged for privilege escalation or code execution depending on the target system configuration and security controls in place. This aligns with ATT&CK framework concepts related to privilege escalation and execution through memory corruption vulnerabilities, where initial access through a denial of service condition could potentially lead to more serious compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability centered on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures to reduce the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Organizations were strongly advised to update to the patched versions of Flash Player as soon as possible, with the specific version numbers indicating the affected ranges that required remediation. The patching process involved not only updating the Flash Player runtime but also ensuring that all embedded applications and browser plugins that relied on Flash functionality were properly updated to maintain consistent security posture. System administrators were recommended to implement additional security controls including web application firewalls, content filtering solutions, and browser security policies that could prevent execution of untrusted Flash content. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all system components, particularly those with extensive runtime functionality like Flash Player that could be exploited through various attack vectors. Additional mitigations included disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, implementing sandboxing mechanisms, and monitoring network traffic for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscored the need for organizations to maintain comprehensive inventory systems that tracked all instances of Flash Player deployment across their networks, ensuring that no systems remained unpatched. Security teams were advised to implement continuous monitoring for signs of exploitation attempts and to establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle Flash Player related vulnerabilities. The widespread nature of the vulnerability meant that even organizations with robust security measures could be affected if they had not yet updated their systems, emphasizing the critical importance of timely patch management and the risks associated with maintaining outdated software components.