CVE-2015-5553 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
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 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5544, CVE-2015-5545, CVE-2015-5546, CVE-2015-5547, CVE-2015-5548, CVE-2015-5549, and CVE-2015-5552.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2024
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.232 on Windows and OS X, and before 11.2.202.508 on Linux, along with Adobe AIR versions before 18.0.0.199 and corresponding SDK versions, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from other related issues in the same advisory period, specifically excluding CVE-2015-5544 through CVE-2015-5552. The flaw manifests through unspecified attack vectors that exploit memory handling mechanisms within the Flash Player runtime environment, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where Flash Player remains enabled, as it allows attackers to gain persistent access to systems through remote exploitation. The attack surface extends across multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with heterogeneous computing environments. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate heap memory structures, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions, as the vulnerability represents a critical threat vector that has been actively exploited in the wild. The remediation approach involves upgrading to patched versions of Adobe Flash Player, AIR, and SDK components, while also implementing network segmentation and application whitelisting measures to reduce exposure. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual network connections or memory access patterns that may suggest exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the persistent security challenges associated with legacy Flash Player implementations and highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all software components, particularly those with broad deployment and execution capabilities. This issue underscores the necessity of comprehensive vulnerability management programs that address both known and emerging threats in complex software ecosystems.