CVE-2015-3103 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3106 and CVE-2015-3107.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
The CVE-2015-3103 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR platforms that has significant implications for system security. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's multimedia software across different operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, with specific version ranges indicating the scope of affected installations. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on compromised systems through unspecified attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise and consumer environments where Flash Player remains widely deployed.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Flash Player runtime environment. A use-after-free condition occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the memory layout and inject malicious code. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software development. The flaw manifests when the Flash Player processes certain multimedia content or handles specific API calls that trigger the improper memory deallocation followed by subsequent access.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3103 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to potentially enable full system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass security controls, escalate privileges, and establish persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability's presence across multiple platforms and versions creates widespread exposure, particularly in environments where legacy Flash content remains active. Security researchers have noted that such use-after-free vulnerabilities often serve as primary attack vectors in advanced persistent threat campaigns, with the potential to deliver malware payloads, establish backdoors, or facilitate lateral movement within networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including disabling Flash Player plugins in web browsers, deploying application whitelisting controls, and ensuring all affected Adobe products are updated to patched versions. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework as a code injection technique highlights the need for comprehensive endpoint protection measures. System administrators should prioritize patch management processes to address all affected versions of Adobe Flash Player, AIR, and related SDK components. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious Flash-related network activity that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing risks associated with legacy software components and underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all enterprise systems.