CVE-2015-4433 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-2015-3122.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2022
Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR products contained a critical type confusion vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks through malformed input processing. This vulnerability affected multiple product versions across different operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux platforms. The flaw manifested during the handling of specific data types within the runtime environment, where the application failed to properly validate or distinguish between different object types during memory operations. Type confusion vulnerabilities occur when a program incorrectly handles data types, leading to situations where memory allocated for one type of data is interpreted as another type, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper type checking mechanisms within the Flash Player and AIR runtime environments. When processing malicious input, the affected applications would incorrectly interpret memory locations, allowing attackers to overwrite critical program variables or function pointers. This type confusion specifically occurred in the object management and memory allocation routines where the system failed to maintain proper type integrity during complex data operations. The vulnerability was distinct from other related issues such as CVE-2015-3119 through CVE-2015-3122, indicating a separate code path or implementation flaw within the Flash runtime's type system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe as it allowed remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems with the privileges of the Flash Player or AIR application. Attackers could craft malicious SWF files or web content that would trigger the type confusion during normal playback operations, leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability was particularly dangerous because Flash Player was widely deployed across enterprise and consumer environments, making the attack surface extensive. The exploitation typically required no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a compromised file, making it a significant threat vector for zero-day attacks.
Security researchers classified this vulnerability under CWE-468, which specifically addresses "Incorrect Pointer Scaling," a related category that encompasses type confusion issues. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of Flash-based malicious content for execution. Organizations should have implemented immediate mitigations including disabling Flash Player plugins, applying the latest security patches from Adobe, and implementing network-based controls to block Flash content. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of proper memory management and type validation in runtime environments, particularly in applications that process untrusted input from web sources. System administrators should have deployed application whitelisting policies and monitored for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The incident underscored the critical need for regular security updates and the risks associated with legacy software components that remain in widespread use despite known security vulnerabilities.