CVE-2015-3127 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3118, CVE-2015-3124, CVE-2015-3128, CVE-2015-3129, CVE-2015-3131, CVE-2015-3132, CVE-2015-3136, CVE-2015-3137, CVE-2015-4428, CVE-2015-4430, and CVE-2015-5117.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2022
The CVE-2015-3127 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related Adobe AIR runtime environments that was actively exploited in the wild during 2015. This vulnerability specifically affects multiple versions of Adobe Flash Player including those before 13.0.0.302 and 14.x through 18.x before 18.0.0.203 on Windows and OS X platforms, as well as older versions on Linux systems. The flaw also extends to Adobe AIR runtime environments and their associated SDKs, with affected versions prior to 18.0.0.180. The vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that differ from a dozen other related CVEs, making it a distinct threat within the broader landscape of Flash Player exploits. This particular vulnerability was categorized under CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory conditions that occur when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating potential for arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Adobe Flash Player's handling of object references and memory allocation. When certain Flash content is processed, the application fails to properly validate or track object lifecycles, leading to situations where memory that should have been deallocated remains accessible to malicious code. Attackers exploit this by crafting specially designed Flash content that triggers the memory management error, allowing them to manipulate freed memory locations to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability's exploitation typically occurs through web-based attacks where users visit compromised websites or receive malicious Flash content through email attachments or other delivery mechanisms. This particular flaw operates at the application layer and can be leveraged to achieve privilege escalation, as the Flash Player process often runs with elevated permissions to handle multimedia content effectively. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be delivered through standard web browsing activities, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks and social engineering campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3127 was severe and widespread across enterprise and individual computing environments. Organizations that had not yet updated their Flash Player installations were vulnerable to remote code execution attacks that could result in complete system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to persistent backdoor installations, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within networks. Security researchers noted that this vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild as part of targeted attacks against government agencies, financial institutions, and technology companies. The attack chain typically began with a user visiting a malicious website hosting compromised Flash content, followed by automatic exploitation of the vulnerability and subsequent payload delivery. The widespread nature of Flash Player usage across different operating systems and platforms made this vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers seeking maximum impact. Organizations that failed to patch this vulnerability were at risk of complete system compromise, as the exploited Flash Player process could be leveraged to install additional malware or establish persistent access to target systems. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond immediate exploitation to include long-term security implications, as compromised systems often remained vulnerable to further attacks and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3127 centered around immediate patching and system hardening measures. Organizations were strongly advised to update all affected Adobe Flash Player installations to versions 13.0.0.302 or later, 18.0.0.203 or later, or to ensure their systems were running Adobe AIR versions 18.0.0.180 or later. The recommended approach involved implementing automated patch management systems to ensure all endpoints were protected against the vulnerability. Security teams also implemented browser security controls including disabling Flash Player in web browsers and using content filtering solutions to block malicious Flash content. Network-based mitigations included deploying intrusion detection systems that could identify and block exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection measures focused on monitoring for suspicious Flash Player processes and memory access patterns. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1078.004 (Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts) highlighted the need for comprehensive monitoring of system access patterns and command execution activities. Organizations that had not already done so were encouraged to implement application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted Flash content, while also conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate any remaining vulnerable systems. The incident underscored the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing layered defense strategies to protect against zero-day vulnerabilities in widely used software components.