CVE-2015-3091 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 do not properly restrict discovery of memory addresses, which allows attackers to bypass the ASLR protection mechanism via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3092.
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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, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 17.0.0.172 and corresponding SDK versions, contain a critical vulnerability that undermines memory protection mechanisms. This flaw specifically targets the Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) security feature, which is fundamental to modern operating system security architectures designed to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The vulnerability stems from improper memory address discovery mechanisms within the Flash Player runtime environment. Attackers can exploit this weakness to obtain memory layout information that would normally be randomized and obscured by ASLR protection. This enables adversaries to bypass the memory protection scheme that randomizes the locations of key memory regions including stack, heap, and library addresses, making it significantly easier to execute successful exploitation techniques such as return-oriented programming (ROP) chains or direct memory manipulation attacks.
The technical impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a specific case of information disclosure that undermines security controls. The flaw operates through unspecified vectors that likely involve memory enumeration techniques or information leakage mechanisms within the Flash Player's memory management subsystem. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique category, specifically related to "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and similar execution methods that rely on memory layout information for exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3091 is substantial as it effectively neutralizes a critical defense mechanism that protects against memory corruption exploits. When ASLR is bypassed, attackers gain the ability to predict memory locations where critical components reside, significantly increasing their chances of successful exploitation. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Flash Player is frequently used for web browsing and multimedia content delivery, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit other vulnerabilities in the same software stack. The vulnerability's scope extends across multiple platforms including Windows, OS X, and Linux, demonstrating the widespread nature of the underlying memory management flaw.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory updates to the latest Flash Player and AIR versions, which address this ASLR bypass vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as DEP (Data Execution Prevention) and stack canaries, while monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the critical role that memory protection mechanisms play in defending against modern exploitation techniques.