CVE-2015-3084 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-2015-3077 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 before 17.0.0.172 and related SDK versions, contained a critical type confusion vulnerability that enabled remote code execution. This vulnerability specifically manifested as an unspecified type confusion flaw that operated differently from the related CVE-2015-3077 and CVE-2015-3086 vulnerabilities, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate. The type confusion vulnerability arises when a program incorrectly handles data type information, leading to situations where memory is accessed or manipulated using incorrect assumptions about the data type. This flaw allowed attackers to manipulate the runtime behavior of Flash Player by exploiting how it managed object types during execution. The vulnerability was classified under CWE-476 as a NULL Pointer Dereference, though its specific manifestation involved type confusion that could be leveraged to corrupt memory structures and execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe as it enabled attackers to craft malicious Flash content that would trigger the type confusion when processed by the affected software. When users visited compromised websites or opened malicious Flash files, the vulnerability could be exploited to gain full control of the affected system. Attackers could leverage this flaw to install malware, steal sensitive information, or perform other malicious activities without user interaction. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Adobe products including Flash Player, AIR, and their respective SDKs meant that the attack surface was extensive across different deployment scenarios and operating systems. The exploitation required no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised web applications. The vulnerability was particularly concerning as it affected both desktop and mobile versions of Adobe's software, and its exploitation could bypass many traditional security controls.
Security researchers and organizations recommended immediate patching of all affected versions to mitigate this vulnerability, as no reliable workarounds existed for the type confusion issue. The patching strategy needed to address the specific memory management flaw that allowed incorrect type handling during runtime execution. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate all affected systems, including both end-user devices and server environments that might host Flash content. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of proper memory management and type checking in runtime environments, particularly in software that processes untrusted content. Security teams needed to monitor for exploitation attempts and implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering to prevent access to malicious Flash content. The incident underscored the risks associated with legacy software support and the need for organizations to maintain up-to-date security patches across all software components, especially those handling rich media content that could be exploited for remote code execution. This vulnerability was also categorized under attack techniques related to privilege escalation and code injection within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, emphasizing its potential for broader system compromise.