CVE-2015-3101 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
The Flash broker in Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.292 and 14.x through 18.x before 18.0.0.160 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.466 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 18.0.0.144 on Windows and before 18.0.0.143 on OS X and Android, Adobe AIR SDK before 18.0.0.144 on Windows and before 18.0.0.143 on OS X, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 18.0.0.144 on Windows and before 18.0.0.143 on OS X, when Internet Explorer is used, allows attackers to perform a transition from Low Integrity to Medium Integrity via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3101 represents a critical security flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR platforms that specifically targets the Flash broker component. This issue affects multiple versions of Adobe's multimedia software across different operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, with varying affected version ranges for each platform. The vulnerability manifests when Adobe Flash Player is used in conjunction with Internet Explorer, creating a pathway for attackers to escalate their privileges within the system's security model. The flaw resides in how the Flash broker component handles security transitions, particularly concerning integrity level management within the Windows operating system architecture.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves an improper handling of security contexts during Flash content execution, specifically allowing malicious actors to manipulate the transition from Low Integrity to Medium Integrity levels. This represents a privilege escalation issue where attackers can potentially gain elevated system privileges without proper authentication or authorization. The vulnerability operates through unspecified vectors that likely involve crafted Flash content or malicious web pages that trigger the insecure code path within the Flash broker. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-264 category of "Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls" and specifically relates to improper privilege management within application security contexts.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3101 is significant as it enables attackers to perform privilege escalation attacks that could lead to full system compromise. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to transition from Low Integrity to Medium Integrity levels, which typically provides access to additional system resources and capabilities that are normally restricted. This escalation can potentially enable further attacks such as arbitrary code execution, file system manipulation, registry modifications, and other malicious activities that would otherwise be prevented by the system's security model. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the widely used Internet Explorer browser in combination with Flash Player, making it accessible to a broad range of potential victims. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and could be used to establish persistent access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3101 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by Adobe. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR installations to the latest versions that address this vulnerability. The patch releases specifically target the Flash broker component and correct the improper integrity level handling. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, implementing strict content filtering policies, and monitoring for suspicious Flash content execution. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and content inspection systems can help detect and block malicious Flash content attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of executing untrusted Flash content and the importance of keeping software updated. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current security practices and regularly reviewing system configurations to prevent similar privilege escalation issues from occurring in other components of the software stack.