CVE-2015-5129 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow 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-2015-5541.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2022
This heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player represents a critical security flaw that affected multiple operating systems and software versions from 2015. The vulnerability exists in Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.232 on Windows and OS X, and versions prior to 11.2.202.508 on Linux, while also impacting Adobe AIR software before version 18.0.0.199. The flaw specifically manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow, which occurs when a program attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries in the heap memory region, creating potential for arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow classification and represents a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently targeted by attackers due to its high impact potential.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of memory management flaws within Adobe's Flash Player runtime environment, where attackers can manipulate input data to overflow heap buffers and overwrite adjacent memory locations. This enables malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, making it particularly dangerous for web-based attacks where Flash content is frequently encountered. The vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that differ from CVE-2015-5541, indicating a distinct exploitation method that leverages the heap memory corruption mechanism. Such heap overflows are particularly challenging to defend against as they can be exploited through various input channels including malformed multimedia content, web pages containing malicious Flash objects, or specially crafted files that trigger the vulnerable code path during Flash Player execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5129 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass comprehensive system compromise capabilities that align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware payloads once initial compromise is achieved. The widespread adoption of Flash Player across various platforms made this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors, as it provided a single exploitation vector that could target multiple operating systems simultaneously. Organizations relying on Flash-based applications and content were at significant risk, especially in enterprise environments where Flash Player was commonly enabled by default. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and the establishment of backdoors, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threats and zero-day exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Organizations should have prioritized updating all affected Adobe Flash Player installations to versions 18.0.0.232 or later on Windows and OS X, and 11.2.202.508 or later on Linux systems. Additionally, Adobe AIR software needed updating to version 18.0.0.199 or higher to address the vulnerability in the runtime environment. Security administrators should have implemented browser security policies to disable Flash Player execution entirely where possible, particularly in enterprise environments. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and content filtering systems could help reduce exposure by blocking malicious Flash content before it reaches vulnerable systems. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date software inventories and implementing automated patch management systems to prevent similar issues from affecting other Adobe products or third-party software that might be similarly vulnerable to heap-based buffer overflow exploits.