CVE-2015-3104 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3104 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR across multiple platforms and versions. This vulnerability resides within the core processing mechanisms of these applications, specifically manifesting in the handling of integer values during memory allocation and data processing operations. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate integer calculations in a way that can lead to unexpected behavior in memory management and buffer handling, creating potential exploitation pathways that could be leveraged for remote code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions where an integer value exceeds the maximum representable value for its data type. In the context of Flash Player and AIR, this overflow occurs during operations involving array indexing, buffer size calculations, or memory allocation parameters. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it affects multiple versions across different operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux, demonstrating the widespread nature of the flaw. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious SWF files or web content that triggers the overflow condition during normal application processing, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3104 extends beyond simple exploitation capabilities to encompass significant security risks for organizations relying on Flash-based content. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions means that numerous endpoints across enterprise networks could be compromised simultaneously. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially bypass security controls, escalate privileges, and gain unauthorized access to systems. The attack surface is particularly broad given that Flash Player was commonly enabled in web browsers and used for multimedia content across various applications, making the exploitation vector accessible through standard web browsing activities. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of Flash-based malicious content for execution purposes, and T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities for code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3104 primarily involve immediate patching of affected software versions as provided by Adobe. Organizations should prioritize updating Flash Player to version 13.0.0.292 or later, and 18.x versions to 18.0.0.160 or later, while ensuring that Adobe AIR installations are updated to their respective secure versions. Additionally, implementing network-based controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help prevent exploitation attempts by blocking malicious Flash content. Security teams should also consider disabling Flash Player in web browsers where it is not essential for business operations, particularly in environments where the software is not actively required. The vulnerability's classification as a critical threat underscores the importance of rapid remediation and continuous monitoring for any exploitation attempts. Organizations should also implement proper incident response procedures to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts, as the integer overflow nature of the vulnerability could be difficult to detect through standard security scanning methods.