CVE-2015-0328 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-2015-0326.
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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 prior to 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 leading to denial of service or potentially more severe impacts. This vulnerability represented a distinct issue from CVE-2015-0325 and CVE-2015-0326, indicating that multiple flaws existed within the Flash Player codebase during this period. The vulnerability stemmed from improper handling of memory references within the player's execution environment, specifically when processing malformed or crafted input data that could cause the application to attempt to access a null memory address. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is classified as a common weakness in software development practices. The attack vector involved delivering malicious content through web browsers or other applications that utilized Flash Player, where the vulnerable player would process the crafted input and subsequently crash or behave unpredictably. The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple denial of service, as the potential for unspecified other impacts suggested that attackers might be able to leverage this condition to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash Player remained widely deployed. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version ranges across different operating systems indicated a systemic issue within the Flash Player codebase that required immediate attention and patching. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligned with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation could potentially enable execution of malicious payloads through compromised Flash Player instances. Organizations needed to implement immediate patch management procedures to address this vulnerability, as the combination of widespread Flash Player deployment and the potential for remote code execution made this issue particularly critical for cybersecurity teams to resolve. The vulnerability highlighted the inherent risks of legacy software components and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all deployed applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involved the Flash Player's inability to properly validate input data structures before attempting memory operations, creating a condition where NULL pointer dereference could occur during normal player operation. This flaw represented a classic memory safety issue that could be exploited through web-based attacks, particularly when users visited compromised websites or opened malicious documents containing embedded Flash content. The vulnerability's classification as a NULL pointer dereference meant that attackers could craft specific input sequences that would cause the Flash Player process to crash when attempting to access a memory address that had not been properly initialized. The fact that this vulnerability affected multiple version ranges suggested that the underlying code patterns causing the issue were prevalent throughout the Flash Player codebase, indicating either poor code review practices or insufficient testing procedures during the development lifecycle. Security researchers identified that the vulnerability could be triggered through various attack vectors including web page content, embedded multimedia files, or even through malicious email attachments that contained Flash content. The potential for unspecified other impacts indicated that this vulnerability might serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or information disclosure, which would significantly increase the overall risk profile. Organizations implementing security controls needed to consider both the immediate denial of service impact and the potential for more serious exploitation scenarios when assessing the risk of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patch deployment across all affected Flash Player installations, with particular attention to the specific version ranges mentioned in the CVE description. The recommended approach involved implementing automated patch management systems that could identify and remediate vulnerable Flash Player versions across enterprise environments, ensuring that all endpoints were protected against this particular NULL pointer dereference condition. Security teams should have also implemented network-based controls including web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block access to known malicious Flash content until patches could be deployed. The vulnerability underscored the importance of maintaining comprehensive asset inventories to identify all instances of Flash Player across the organization, as the presence of multiple vulnerable versions across different operating systems could create complex remediation challenges. Organizations needed to establish incident response procedures specifically addressing Flash Player vulnerabilities, including monitoring for exploitation attempts and implementing containment measures when vulnerable systems were detected. The vulnerability's characteristics aligned with the concept of zero-day exploits in cybersecurity, as the potential for unspecified impacts suggested that attackers might have been actively exploiting this vulnerability before its disclosure. From a compliance perspective, organizations needed to ensure that their patch management processes met regulatory requirements for addressing critical security vulnerabilities within established timelines, particularly given the widespread deployment of Flash Player in enterprise environments. The incident also highlighted the need for organizations to develop comprehensive deprecation strategies for legacy software components, as Flash Player's continued use in enterprise environments created ongoing security risks that were difficult to fully mitigate through patching alone.