CVE-2015-0359 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-2015-0346.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2025
The double free vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0359 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Adobe Flash Player that affected multiple versions across different operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacts Flash Player versions before 13.0.0.281 and 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.169 on Windows and OS X platforms, as well as versions before 11.2.202.457 on Linux systems. The flaw stems from improper memory management handling within the player's code execution environment, creating conditions where the same memory block could be freed twice, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory management errors that occur during the processing of malicious Flash content. When Flash Player encounters specially crafted content, it fails to properly validate memory allocation and deallocation sequences, allowing an attacker to manipulate the heap management system. This particular flaw differs from CVE-2015-0346, indicating distinct code paths and exploitation mechanisms that make it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The double free condition creates a scenario where freed memory can be reallocated and manipulated by an attacker, potentially leading to stack corruption or arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0359 is severe and far-reaching given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise and consumer environments. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability through web browsers that have Flash Player enabled, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attacks where users might be诱导 to visit malicious websites or open compromised email attachments. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version ranges across different platforms means that organizations with diverse computing environments faced increased exposure, as the flaw existed across both legacy and newer versions of the software. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and code execution.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all Flash Player installations to versions that address the memory management issues. The mitigation strategy should include implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block suspicious Flash content, as well as monitoring network traffic for exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling Flash Player in browser environments where it is not absolutely necessary, as recommended by CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect and prevent memory corruption exploits, while regular security assessments should verify that all systems have been properly updated. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly suitable for advanced persistent threat campaigns, where attackers could leverage the double free condition to establish persistent access to compromised systems.