CVE-2015-5540 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-2015-5127, CVE-2015-5130, CVE-2015-5134, CVE-2015-5539, 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 • 12/16/2024
The CVE-2015-5540 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and AIR runtime environments that affected multiple operating systems and versions. This vulnerability specifically targets the memory management mechanisms within the Flash Player runtime, creating conditions where freed memory blocks could be accessed and potentially exploited by malicious actors. The issue manifests across Windows and macOS platforms with Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.232, and Linux systems with versions before 11.2.202.508, while Adobe AIR and its associated SDKs were impacted through versions before 18.0.0.199. The vulnerability operates as a memory corruption issue that enables attackers to manipulate the execution flow of applications through crafted malicious content, making it particularly dangerous in web browsing environments where Flash content is commonly encountered.
The technical nature of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within Adobe's Flash Player implementation. When the runtime processes certain Flash content, it fails to properly validate memory references after objects have been freed from memory, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite memory locations with malicious code or manipulate program execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is classified as a memory safety issue that occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed. The flaw allows attackers to leverage the freed memory blocks to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5540 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a pathway to establish persistent access within compromised systems. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, and compromised web content that loads Flash Player components. The attack surface is particularly broad given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise and consumer environments, making it an attractive target for threat actors. Additionally, the vulnerability's exploitation does not require user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by attack scenarios. The memory corruption aspects of this vulnerability align with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the compromised Flash runtime to execute arbitrary commands and establish persistence mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5540 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Adobe Flash Player installations to versions 18.0.0.232 or later for Windows and macOS, and 11.2.202.508 or later for Linux systems, while ensuring Adobe AIR and SDK installations are updated to 18.0.0.199 or later. Beyond patching, security teams should implement additional protective measures including disabling Flash Player in web browsers, implementing content filtering solutions, and monitoring for suspicious Flash-related activity in network traffic. The vulnerability's characteristics make it particularly susceptible to exploit prevention through modern security controls such as address space layout randomization, data execution prevention, and sandboxing mechanisms that Adobe implemented in later versions of their runtime. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to identify and block exploitation attempts targeting this specific memory corruption vulnerability.