CVE-2015-3131 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-2015-3127, CVE-2015-3128, CVE-2015-3129, 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 • 11/26/2024
This use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player represents a critical memory safety issue that has been extensively documented in cybersecurity threat intelligence reports. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe Flash Player across different operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux platforms. The specific versions impacted include Flash Player before 13.0.0.302 and 14.x through 18.x before 18.0.0.203 on Windows and OS X, along with the Linux version before 11.2.202.481. Additionally, Adobe AIR versions prior to 18.0.0.180 and corresponding SDK versions are also vulnerable, making this a widespread issue affecting Adobe's multimedia platform ecosystem.
The technical flaw stems from improper memory management within the Flash Player runtime environment where freed memory blocks are still being referenced or accessed by subsequent operations. This memory corruption vulnerability occurs when the application attempts to use a pointer that references memory that has already been deallocated, creating a condition where attackers can manipulate the memory layout to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote code execution without requiring user interaction, making it highly attractive to threat actors in zero-day exploit campaigns. The specific attack vectors remain unspecified in the CVE description, but such vulnerabilities typically involve crafted multimedia content that triggers the memory corruption during normal playback operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. The use-after-free condition creates a predictable memory corruption pattern that can be leveraged to overwrite critical program structures, function pointers, or return addresses. This allows attackers to redirect program execution flow and inject malicious code into the running Flash Player process. The vulnerability's presence in both desktop and mobile versions of Adobe's software platforms means that organizations using Flash-based applications across multiple environments face elevated risk. Security researchers have noted that such vulnerabilities often serve as initial access vectors in broader attack campaigns, with attackers using the exploit to establish persistent footholds before deploying additional malware payloads.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory patching of affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR versions to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications, and is commonly mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution. System administrators should also deploy network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted Flash content. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any remaining installations of affected software versions and establish monitoring procedures for anomalous Flash Player behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should include not only patch management but also user education regarding the risks of executing untrusted Flash content and the importance of maintaining updated software versions.