CVE-2015-3077 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.289 and 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.188 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.460 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 17.0.0.172, Adobe AIR SDK before 17.0.0.172, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 17.0.0.172 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code by leveraging an unspecified "type confusion," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3084 and CVE-2015-3086.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.289 and 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.188 on Windows and OS X platforms, along with affected versions on Linux before 11.2.202.460, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 17.0.0.172 and corresponding SDK versions, contained a critical type confusion vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability specifically manifested as an improper handling of data types within the Flash Player runtime environment, where the application failed to properly validate or manage the transition between different data type representations during execution. The flaw represented a fundamental issue in the interpreter's type system where memory operations could be manipulated to execute arbitrary code through crafted malicious content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involved exploitation of type confusion patterns that allowed attackers to manipulate object references and memory layouts within the Flash Player's memory space. When the runtime encountered certain conditions involving object type handling, it would incorrectly interpret memory locations as different data types than what they actually contained, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite critical memory segments or redirect execution flow. This type confusion vulnerability specifically impacted the ActionScript virtual machine's handling of objects and their associated metadata, where the interpreter would use cached type information that could be manipulated to bypass normal security boundaries. The vulnerability was classified under CWE-476 as a NULL pointer dereference, though its actual exploitation mechanism involved more complex type manipulation techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability posed significant risk to organizations relying on Flash Player for content delivery, as it could be exploited through web browsers or standalone AIR applications without requiring user interaction. Attackers could craft malicious SWF files or web content that would trigger the type confusion during normal playback operations, allowing for complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extended across multiple platforms and versions, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with diverse deployment environments. The exploitation required no user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website or opening a malicious file, making it highly suitable for drive-by attack scenarios. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be chained with other exploits to bypass modern security mitigations such as DEP and ASLR protections.
The attack surface for this vulnerability was extensive given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise networks and consumer devices. Organizations using older versions of Flash Player or AIR applications were particularly vulnerable, as these components were often present in legacy systems that had not been updated. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway aligned with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers could execute arbitrary code through the Flash Player runtime. Network administrators needed to implement immediate mitigation strategies including disabling Flash Player plugins, updating to patched versions, and implementing network-based controls to prevent access to known malicious domains. The vulnerability's resolution required patching at the application level, with Adobe releasing updates that addressed the type confusion handling within the Flash Player interpreter and AIR runtime environments. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected systems were updated promptly, as the vulnerability could be exploited to establish persistent backdoors or escalate privileges within compromised systems.