CVE-2015-5557 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-2015-5540, CVE-2015-5550, CVE-2015-5551, CVE-2015-5556, 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 • 12/15/2024
The CVE-2015-5557 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments that fundamentally compromises system security through memory management corruption. This vulnerability affects multiple platform versions including Windows and OS X Flash Player before 18.0.0.232, Linux Flash Player before 11.2.202.508, and various Adobe AIR versions prior to 18.0.0.199. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly manage memory references, creating opportunities for malicious code execution through memory corruption attacks that can be exploited remotely. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where program memory is accessed after it has been freed, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves attackers leveraging the improper memory management within Flash Player's handling of dynamic objects and their associated memory allocations. When the application processes certain multimedia content or executes specific actions within Flash applications, it may free memory segments while still maintaining references to them. This creates a window where attackers can manipulate the freed memory to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The attack vectors remain unspecified in the CVE description, suggesting that the vulnerability can be triggered through various methods including malicious web content, embedded Flash files, or specially crafted multimedia objects that cause the runtime to improperly handle memory references during object lifecycle management.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5557 extends far beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve complete system compromise through privilege escalation and persistent access. The vulnerability can be exploited in web browser environments where Flash Player is enabled, allowing remote attackers to execute malicious code on targeted systems without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently browse the internet and interact with rich media content. The attack surface is broadened by the widespread adoption of Adobe Flash Player across various platforms and applications, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to establish persistent footholds within networks. The vulnerability's classification within the ATT&CK framework would likely map to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, as attackers can leverage the code execution capability to install backdoors or establish command and control channels.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5557 require immediate patching of affected Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR installations, with administrators prioritizing the deployment of patches that address the specific memory management flaws in the affected versions. The recommended approach includes updating to Adobe Flash Player versions 18.0.0.232 or later for Windows and OS X, and 11.2.202.508 or later for Linux, along with Adobe AIR versions 18.0.0.199 or later. Network security measures should include blocking Flash content at the firewall level where possible, implementing content filtering solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts, and disabling Flash Player plugins in web browsers where they are not absolutely required. Additionally, security professionals should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis, particularly looking for patterns associated with memory corruption attacks and unusual network behavior that might indicate successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in runtime environments and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates and the dangers of running outdated software components in enterprise environments.