CVE-2015-3135 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow 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-2015-4432 and CVE-2015-5118.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2022
This heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments across multiple platforms and versions. The flaw manifests in the memory management handling of heap allocated buffers within the flash player execution environment, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability affects Windows and OS X systems running Flash Player versions before 13.0.0.302 and 14.x through 18.x before 18.0.0.203, while Linux systems are impacted by versions before 11.2.202.481. Additionally, Adobe AIR runtime environments and related SDK components are vulnerable through version 18.0.0.180. The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the category of memory corruption flaws, specifically heap overflow conditions that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise when exploited successfully. Attackers can leverage the buffer overflow to inject malicious code into the memory space of legitimate flash player processes, potentially escalating privileges and establishing persistent access to affected systems. This vulnerability represents a critical threat vector for enterprise environments where flash player remains active, particularly given the widespread deployment of Adobe Flash across web applications and multimedia content. The exploitability characteristics align with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework, where memory corruption vulnerabilities serve as primary entry points for advanced persistent threats and zero-day exploitation campaigns.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of heap memory management failure that violates fundamental security principles of input validation and memory bounds checking. The vulnerability classification maps directly to CWE-122, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates the persistent challenges organizations face with legacy runtime environments. From an attack surface perspective, this vulnerability operates within the ATT&CK framework's initial access and execution phases, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to establish footholds in target networks. The complexity of exploitation requires sophisticated techniques that can bypass modern security mitigations including address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patch deployment for all affected Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR versions, as well as comprehensive system inventory assessment to identify remaining vulnerable installations. Organizations should implement network-based controls including web application firewalls and content filtering to restrict access to potentially malicious flash content. The remediation approach must also include disabling flash player plugins in browsers where possible, implementing application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for exploitation attempts through security information and event management systems. Additional defensive measures should encompass regular vulnerability scanning, endpoint detection and response capabilities, and comprehensive incident response planning to address potential exploitation attempts. Given the nature of this vulnerability, organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for flash content execution and maintaining detailed forensic readiness for potential compromise scenarios.