CVE-2015-0346 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Double free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.281 and 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.169 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.457 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-0359.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2022
The CVE-2015-0346 vulnerability represents a critical double free memory corruption flaw in Adobe Flash Player affecting multiple versions across different operating systems. This vulnerability resides in the memory management mechanisms of the Flash Player runtime environment, specifically within the handling of dynamic memory allocation and deallocation processes. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to free the same memory block twice, creating a condition where an attacker can manipulate the memory layout to achieve arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.281 for Windows and OS X platforms, and versions prior to 17.0.0.169 for 14.x through 17.x releases, along with Linux versions before 11.2.202.457. This issue demonstrates the classic memory safety problem that has been documented in CWE-415 as an improper double-free condition.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted malicious content that triggers the memory corruption during Flash Player's normal execution flow. When the vulnerable code path is executed, the application's memory allocator receives multiple free operations on the same memory address, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite critical data structures or pointers within the heap. This condition creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the vulnerability description indicate that the attack can be delivered through various means including web pages, embedded content, or specially crafted files that leverage the Flash Player's runtime environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0346 is severe and far-reaching, as Flash Player was widely deployed across enterprise and consumer environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for targeted attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute malicious code, establish persistent backdoors, or escalate privileges within the affected systems. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Flash Player were at significant risk, as the vulnerability could be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The widespread adoption of Flash Player across different platforms meant that the attack surface was extensive, affecting both Windows and macOS environments through the affected version ranges. Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under the ATT&CK framework as part of the privilege escalation and code execution tactics, specifically mapping to techniques involving memory corruption exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0346 primarily focus on immediate patching and remediation activities. Adobe released security updates addressing this vulnerability in versions 13.0.0.281, 17.0.0.169, and 11.2.202.457 across respective platforms. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these patches to eliminate the risk of exploitation. Additionally, network-level defenses including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide temporary protection by blocking known malicious Flash content. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring for suspicious memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should consider disabling Flash Player in environments where it is not absolutely required, particularly for web browsers that support modern web standards. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched versions to ensure that the vulnerability is properly addressed without introducing compatibility issues with legitimate Flash content.