CVE-2015-5127 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.232 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.508 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 18.0.0.199, Adobe AIR SDK before 18.0.0.199, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 18.0.0.199 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5130, CVE-2015-5134, CVE-2015-5539, CVE-2015-5540, CVE-2015-5550, CVE-2015-5551, CVE-2015-5556, CVE-2015-5557, CVE-2015-5559, CVE-2015-5561, CVE-2015-5563, CVE-2015-5564, and CVE-2015-5565.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2025
The CVE-2015-5127 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments that affected multiple operating systems and software versions. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate memory contents and execute arbitrary code. The flaw specifically impacted Adobe Flash Player versions before 18.0.0.232 on Windows and OS X platforms, as well as versions before 11.2.202.508 on Linux systems, alongside affected Adobe AIR runtime versions and SDKs.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves attackers crafting malicious Flash content that triggers a use-after-free condition within the Flash Player's memory management system. When the vulnerable application processes this malicious content, it attempts to access memory that has already been deallocated, creating a scenario where attackers can manipulate the freed memory location to inject and execute malicious code. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through web browsers or other applications that embed Flash content, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks and social engineering campaigns.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability created significant security risks for organizations relying on Flash-based applications and content. The attack surface was extensive given Flash Player's widespread deployment across Windows and OS X environments, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to install backdoors, steal sensitive data, or deploy additional malware. Organizations with legacy systems running older versions of Flash Player or AIR runtime were particularly vulnerable, as these components often remained active despite security patches being available.
Security professionals addressing this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through patch management processes, ensuring all affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR installations are updated to the patched versions. The mitigation strategy should include implementing browser security controls such as disabling Flash content by default, using application whitelisting to restrict Flash execution, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework tactics, this vulnerability aligns with T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1106 (Native API) as attackers leverage the compromised Flash runtime to execute malicious code at the system level. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to identify potential exploitation attempts and monitor for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate use-after-free exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and the risks associated with legacy Flash content, particularly in enterprise environments where legacy applications continue to operate despite known security risks.