CVE-2015-0342 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in 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 via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-0341.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2022
The CVE-2015-0342 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player that affected multiple versions across different operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacted Flash Player versions before 13.0.0.277 and 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.134 on Windows and OS X platforms, while also affecting versions before 11.2.202.451 on Linux systems. The flaw falls under the category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can be exploited to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities. The vulnerability operates differently from CVE-2015-0341, indicating distinct exploitation mechanisms within the Flash Player codebase. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs when Flash Player allocates memory for objects and subsequently frees that memory while still maintaining references to it. Attackers can manipulate the application's memory management routines to cause the system to reuse freed memory blocks for malicious purposes. When the application attempts to access or modify memory that has already been freed, it can lead to unpredictable behavior including code execution. The exploitation typically involves crafting malicious Flash content that triggers the specific memory management flaw, causing the application to dereference freed memory pointers. This memory corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations or inject malicious code into the running Flash Player process.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0342 extends significantly beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it provides attackers with a powerful foothold for further compromise. The vulnerability can be exploited through web-based attacks where users visit malicious websites or open compromised email attachments containing malicious Flash content. Once successfully exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, which typically runs with the same privileges as the user. This can lead to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, system persistence mechanisms, and further lateral movement within compromised networks. The vulnerability affects widely deployed software across multiple platforms, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking broad exploitation capabilities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect against this vulnerability, including prompt patching of affected Flash Player versions. The recommended approach involves upgrading to patched versions of Adobe Flash Player that address the specific memory management issues. System administrators should also consider implementing network-based controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block malicious Flash content. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and opening suspicious email attachments. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities and privilege escalation. The vulnerability also maps to CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Flash Player versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly.