CVE-2015-3102 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
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 allow remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3098 and CVE-2015-3099.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR implementations contained a critical security flaw that enabled remote attackers to circumvent the Same Origin Policy mechanism, a fundamental web security control that prevents unauthorized access to resources across different domains. This vulnerability affected multiple versions across different operating systems and platforms, specifically targeting Flash Player versions 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, along with corresponding Adobe AIR and AIR SDK versions. The flaw represented a significant bypass of web security boundaries that could allow attackers to access sensitive data from different origins without proper authorization. The vulnerability was categorized under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and aligned with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The technical implementation allowed attackers to exploit memory corruption or access control bypasses that enabled cross-origin resource access, potentially leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or further exploitation of compromised systems. This flaw was particularly dangerous because it operated at the core security layer of web browsers and applications that relied on Flash for multimedia content and interactive features. The impact extended beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise, as the bypass allowed attackers to access resources that should have been restricted. Organizations running affected versions faced significant risk of targeted attacks, especially in environments where Flash was widely used for business-critical applications. The vulnerability required no user interaction for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it could be triggered through malicious web content without user awareness. Security researchers noted that the flaw was distinct from similar vulnerabilities like CVE-2015-3098 and CVE-2015-3099, indicating a separate code path or implementation issue within the Flash Player and AIR security frameworks. Remediation required immediate patching of all affected versions, with administrators advised to disable Flash content entirely when possible, as the vulnerability represented a critical weakness in web security architecture. The attack surface was particularly wide given Flash Player's prevalence in enterprise environments and its integration with various web applications and services. This vulnerability demonstrated the ongoing challenges with legacy software security and the need for comprehensive patch management strategies across all application layers. The flaw highlighted the importance of proper privilege separation and access control mechanisms in multimedia frameworks, as well as the critical need for regular security assessments of widely deployed software components. Organizations needed to implement immediate mitigation strategies including browser security updates, network monitoring for suspicious Flash-related activity, and comprehensive vulnerability scanning to identify systems running affected software versions. The incident underscored the risks associated with maintaining outdated software components and the potential for widespread exploitation when core security mechanisms are compromised.