CVE-2015-3122 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 attackers to execute arbitrary code by leveraging an unspecified "type confusion," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3119, CVE-2015-3120, CVE-2015-3121, and CVE-2015-4433.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2022
Adobe Flash Player and AIR runtime environments suffered from a critical type confusion vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability existed in multiple product versions across different operating systems and was distinct from several other related vulnerabilities in the same timeframe. The flaw specifically manifested as a type confusion issue within the Flash Player's object handling mechanisms, where the runtime failed to properly validate data types during object manipulation processes. This type confusion allowed attackers to manipulate object references in ways that could bypass security checks and execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash runtime environment. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it affected widely deployed software across Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms, with different version thresholds for each operating system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through malicious web content or specially crafted files that would trigger the type confusion during Flash Player's processing of user-supplied data. The exploit required no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a compromised file, making it highly dangerous in real-world scenarios. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper handling of buffer boundaries, and represents a classic example of how type confusion can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack vector typically involved crafting malicious SWF files or web content that would cause the Flash Player to improperly handle object types, leading to memory corruption and code execution. Security researchers noted that this vulnerability was particularly concerning due to the widespread use of Flash Player across enterprise and consumer environments, creating a large attack surface. The issue was classified as a remote code execution vulnerability with a high severity rating, as it could be exploited without requiring local system access or user interaction beyond visiting malicious content. Organizations needed to implement immediate patching strategies across all affected versions to protect their systems from exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's impact was compounded by the fact that many users and organizations were slow to update their Flash Player installations, creating extended periods of exposure. Security analysts emphasized that this vulnerability demonstrated the ongoing risks associated with legacy software components and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches. The flaw also highlighted the challenges of securing complex runtime environments where multiple object types and memory management processes could interact in unpredictable ways. This vulnerability was ultimately addressed through the release of patched versions of Adobe Flash Player and AIR runtime environments, requiring users to update to specific version numbers to achieve protection. The incident served as a significant reminder of the risks associated with Flash-based attacks and contributed to the broader industry shift away from Flash technology. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework would fall within the execution and privilege escalation categories, demonstrating how type confusion issues can serve as initial access vectors for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations that failed to patch this vulnerability were at risk of complete system compromise, as the executed code could leverage the Flash runtime's elevated privileges to perform actions such as installing malware, modifying system files, or establishing persistent backdoors. The complexity of the type confusion mechanism meant that traditional sandboxing approaches were insufficient to prevent exploitation, requiring comprehensive patch management strategies across all affected platforms and versions. This vulnerability underscored the critical importance of maintaining current security postures and the dangers of relying on outdated software components in enterprise environments.