CVE-2015-3093 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 or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3078, CVE-2015-3089, and CVE-2015-3090.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2025
Adobe Flash Player and AIR runtime environments contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability affected multiple versions across different operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux platforms. The flaw manifested as a heap-based buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that could be triggered when processing maliciously crafted Flash content or AIR applications. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious SWF files or AIR applications that would cause the affected runtime to corrupt memory structures, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it allowed attackers to bypass security restrictions and execute malicious code directly on target systems. The affected versions included Flash Player 13.0.0.289 and earlier, 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.188, and various AIR runtime versions including Adobe AIR before 17.0.0.172. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability falls under the MITRE ATT&CK framework category of T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for execution, representing a classic remote code execution vector that could be leveraged by threat actors for persistent access. The impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple denial of service, as successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Flash Player and AIR were particularly vulnerable since these components were widely deployed across enterprise environments and consumer systems. The vulnerability's exploitation required minimal user interaction, often through web browsing or opening malicious attachments, making it a significant risk for organizations with limited security awareness training. The flaw was distinct from other vulnerabilities in the same CVE family, indicating a unique code path or memory handling issue within the Flash Player and AIR runtime engines. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability was likely triggered during the parsing of complex multimedia content or specific bytecode sequences that caused improper memory management. Remediation required immediate patching of all affected Adobe products, including Flash Player, AIR runtime, and AIR SDK components. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management procedures and consider disabling Flash content in browsers where possible. The vulnerability highlighted the inherent risks of complex multimedia runtime environments and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for widely deployed software components.
The technical nature of this vulnerability was characterized by improper memory handling within Adobe's Flash Player and AIR runtime implementations. Memory corruption flaws typically occur when applications write data past the boundaries of allocated memory buffers or when they fail to properly validate input data before processing. In this case, the vulnerability likely involved a heap-based memory corruption scenario where attacker-controlled data could overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing for code execution. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product versions across different operating systems indicated a fundamental flaw in the underlying codebase rather than an isolated incident. This type of vulnerability is particularly challenging to detect and remediate because it often requires deep code analysis and memory forensics to understand the precise conditions under which exploitation occurs. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with common attack patterns described in the Common Exploitation Techniques section of security frameworks, where attackers leverage memory handling flaws to gain unauthorized access to systems. The fact that the vulnerability affected both desktop and mobile versions of Adobe's products demonstrated the widespread impact of such flaws within a single vendor's ecosystem. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability underscored the importance of implementing application whitelisting policies, network segmentation, and browser security controls to limit the potential impact of such exploits. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR SDK components was particularly concerning as it indicated that developers creating AIR applications were also at risk of creating exploitable code. Organizations needed to consider the broader implications of this vulnerability on their software development lifecycle, particularly in environments where AIR applications were frequently deployed. The vulnerability's exploitation timeline coincided with a period when Flash Player was still widely used in enterprise environments, making the potential impact on organizations significant. Security teams needed to prioritize this vulnerability alongside other critical security issues in their risk assessment and remediation planning processes. The vulnerability's distinction from other CVEs in the same year indicated that it was not part of a common exploitation pattern but rather a unique flaw in Adobe's implementation that required specific patching approaches. This vulnerability also highlighted the challenges of maintaining security in legacy software environments where patching cycles may be slower or more complex due to compatibility requirements and enterprise deployment constraints.
Organizations that failed to patch this vulnerability faced significant operational risks including potential data breaches, system compromise, and regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution meant that attackers could establish persistent backdoors on affected systems, enabling long-term access and data exfiltration. The impact extended beyond individual system compromise to include potential network-wide propagation through lateral movement techniques. Security teams needed to implement comprehensive monitoring and detection capabilities to identify exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including web-based attacks and malicious email attachments. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR SDK components was particularly concerning for organizations that developed custom AIR applications, as these applications could inadvertently introduce the vulnerability into their software supply chains. The exploitation of this vulnerability required minimal user interaction, often through simple web browsing or opening of malicious documents, making it accessible to attackers with limited technical expertise. Organizations needed to consider the broader implications for their security posture, as the vulnerability demonstrated the risks associated with maintaining legacy software components in production environments. The vulnerability's exploitation could result in complete system compromise, potentially allowing attackers to install additional malware, modify system configurations, or establish persistence mechanisms. The attack surface was particularly large given the widespread deployment of Adobe Flash Player and AIR applications across enterprise networks. Security professionals needed to implement layered defense strategies including network monitoring, endpoint protection, and application control measures to mitigate the risk. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify potentially exploitable flaws in deployed software. From a compliance perspective, organizations that failed to patch this vulnerability could face regulatory scrutiny and potential penalties for inadequate security controls. The vulnerability's impact on mobile platforms, where Flash Player was also deployed, required additional consideration for organizations with mobile device management policies. The remediation process required careful coordination between IT teams, security operations, and business stakeholders to ensure comprehensive patch deployment across all affected systems. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product versions also indicated the need for coordinated patch management across the entire Adobe product ecosystem to prevent partial remediation that could leave systems vulnerable. Organizations needed to maintain detailed inventories of all deployed Adobe products to ensure complete remediation and prevent exploitation through unpatched systems. The vulnerability's exploitation required no special privileges, making it accessible to attackers with basic technical skills and potentially enabling automated exploitation at scale. This characteristic significantly increased the risk to organizations that did not maintain up-to-date security patches and monitoring capabilities for their software environments.