CVE-2015-0336 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.277 and 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.134 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.451 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by leveraging an unspecified "type confusion," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-0334.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2024
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.277 on Windows and OS X and versions 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.134 on the same platforms as well as versions before 11.2.202.451 on Linux contained a critical type confusion vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This flaw specifically manifested as an improper handling of object types during runtime execution, allowing malicious actors to manipulate memory structures through crafted Flash content. The vulnerability stemmed from the player's failure to properly validate type information when processing objects, creating conditions where an attacker could coerce the runtime environment into treating data as a different type than originally intended. This type confusion issue represented a distinct vulnerability from CVE-2015-0334 and was classified under CWE-466, which addresses the improper handling of data types in memory operations. The attack vector exploited by this vulnerability involved delivering malicious Flash content through web browsers or other applications that embedded Flash Player functionality, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently accessed untrusted web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe and far-reaching across multiple operating systems and platform versions. Attackers could leverage this type confusion flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, which typically ran with the same permissions as the user who initiated the browser session. This capability enabled attackers to bypass traditional security boundaries and potentially escalate privileges to gain full system control. The vulnerability affected widely deployed Flash Player versions across different platforms, creating a substantial attack surface that adversaries could exploit through various delivery mechanisms including compromised websites, malicious email attachments, or drive-by download scenarios. The memory corruption resulting from the type confusion allowed attackers to overwrite critical memory locations, inject malicious code, and ultimately take complete control of affected systems. This vulnerability was particularly concerning because Flash Player was ubiquitous in enterprise environments and often enabled by default in web browsers, making it an attractive target for nation-state actors and sophisticated threat groups.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of affected Flash Player installations across all supported platforms. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems running vulnerable versions were updated promptly, with particular attention to the specific version ranges mentioned in the CVE description. System administrators needed to disable Flash Player functionality in web browsers where possible, especially in environments where it was not strictly required for business operations. Network-based mitigations included implementing web content filtering solutions that could detect and block malicious Flash content, while endpoint protection measures such as application whitelisting could prevent execution of untrusted Flash content. Security monitoring should have been enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns consistent with exploitation attempts, including unusual memory access patterns and unexpected code execution. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as it demonstrated how a single vulnerable component could compromise entire systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability mapped to techniques involving privilege escalation and execution through malicious content, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that address both network-level and endpoint-level threats. Organizations should have also considered implementing browser sandboxing technologies and restricting Flash Player's capabilities through security policies to minimize the potential impact of similar future vulnerabilities.