CVE-2015-0326 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-2015-0325 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 for 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 vulnerability that enabled attackers to execute denial of service attacks through null pointer dereference conditions. This vulnerability represented a distinct security flaw separate from CVE-2015-0325 and CVE-2015-0328, indicating multiple attack vectors within the Flash Player codebase. The vulnerability stemmed from improper input validation and memory management handling within the player's processing mechanisms, where specific malformed input sequences could trigger null pointer dereference errors during execution. The technical implementation involved the Flash Player's handling of certain data structures and object references that failed to properly validate pointers before dereferencing them, leading to system crashes and potential exploitation for more severe attacks. This flaw existed across multiple Flash Player versions and operating systems, making it particularly dangerous as it affected a wide range of installations. The vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious web content, embedded media files, or specially crafted Flash objects that would trigger the null pointer dereference condition when processed by the vulnerable Flash Player components. The impact extended beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution environment and system configuration. Organizations using these vulnerable versions faced significant risk as the flaw could be leveraged by attackers to disrupt services or potentially achieve further system compromise. The vulnerability highlighted the critical importance of proper memory management practices and input validation in multimedia player software, aligning with common weakness patterns identified in CWE-476 which addresses null pointer dereference issues. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability demonstrated the persistent security challenges associated with legacy multimedia frameworks and the need for comprehensive patch management strategies. The attack surface was particularly concerning given Flash Player's widespread deployment and the ease with which malicious actors could deliver exploit code through web browsers and other Flash-enabled applications. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability represented a typical example of how memory safety issues in complex software systems can create exploitable conditions that require immediate remediation. The remediation approach centered on updating to patched versions of Adobe Flash Player, with the specific version numbers indicating the vulnerable ranges that required immediate attention. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems were updated promptly, as the vulnerability's exploitation could occur through legitimate web browsing activities. The incident underscored the importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia frameworks and the risks associated with running outdated software components in enterprise environments. This vulnerability also highlighted the broader security implications of Flash Player's architecture and its susceptibility to memory corruption issues that could be exploited across different operating system platforms. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under software exploitation techniques, specifically targeting memory corruption and denial of service conditions that could be leveraged for initial access or persistent compromise of affected systems.