CVE-2015-3116 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.302 and 14.x through 18.x before 18.0.0.203 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.481 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 18.0.0.180, Adobe AIR SDK before 18.0.0.180, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 18.0.0.180 allow remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-0578, CVE-2015-3115, CVE-2015-3125, and CVE-2015-5116.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.302 and 14.x through 18.x before 18.0.0.203 on Windows and OS X platforms, along with versions before 11.2.202.481 on Linux, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 18.0.0.180 and related SDK versions, contained a critical security flaw that enabled remote attackers to circumvent the browser's Same Origin Policy mechanism. This vulnerability represented a distinct security weakness from previously identified flaws such as CVE-2014-0578, CVE-2015-3115, CVE-2015-3125, and CVE-2015-5116, indicating that attackers could exploit this specific bypass mechanism to access resources that should have been restricted by origin-based security controls. The Same Origin Policy serves as a fundamental security principle in web browsers that prevents scripts from one origin from accessing resources of another origin, making this bypass particularly dangerous as it could allow attackers to perform cross-origin data theft, manipulation, or unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involved unspecified attack vectors that permitted unauthorized access to resources across different origins, effectively undermining the core security model that web browsers implement to protect users. This flaw likely exploited implementation gaps or insufficient validation mechanisms within Flash Player's security architecture that should have enforced proper origin restrictions when processing web content. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond simple privilege escalation as it provided attackers with the capability to bypass critical security boundaries that separate different web domains, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as cross-site scripting exploits, data exfiltration, or session hijacking operations. Security researchers classified this issue as a significant concern due to its potential for enabling advanced persistent threats that could leverage the bypass to access sensitive user data or system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3116 was substantial given the widespread deployment of Adobe Flash Player across enterprise and consumer environments, making it a prime target for exploitation. Organizations running affected versions faced increased risk of data breaches, as attackers could potentially access sensitive information from multiple domains without proper authentication or authorization. This vulnerability particularly affected environments where users accessed multiple web applications or services that relied on Flash Player for functionality, creating a broader attack surface that could be exploited to gain access to corporate networks or user accounts. The security implications extended to both desktop and mobile platforms, as the affected versions were deployed across different operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligned with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of privilege escalation and persistence, as attackers could establish more persistent access to systems by leveraging the bypassed security controls. The vulnerability also represented a significant concern for compliance with industry standards such as those defined by ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, as it could potentially lead to violations of data protection requirements and regulatory compliance measures.
Organizations should have immediately implemented patch management procedures to upgrade to the fixed versions of Adobe Flash Player and AIR, while also considering network-based mitigations such as content filtering and web application firewalls to reduce the attack surface. Security teams needed to conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions and implement monitoring for potential exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should have included not only software updates but also user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping Flash Player updated. Additionally, organizations should have considered implementing more robust security controls such as sandboxing mechanisms and application whitelisting to limit the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future. The incident highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the need for comprehensive vulnerability management programs that could quickly identify and remediate similar security flaws across complex software ecosystems.