CVE-2015-5559 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-2015-5557, CVE-2015-5561, CVE-2015-5563, CVE-2015-5564, and CVE-2015-5565.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2024
The CVE-2015-5559 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments that poses significant security risks to enterprise and individual users alike. This vulnerability affects multiple platform versions including Windows and OS X Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.232, Linux Flash Player versions prior to 11.2.202.508, and various Adobe AIR runtime versions before 18.0.0.199. The flaw stems from improper memory management within the Flash Player runtime, specifically in how it handles object references after they have been freed from memory. This particular vulnerability is distinct from several other related issues including CVE-2015-5127 through CVE-2015-5565, indicating a unique code path that requires separate remediation efforts.
The technical exploitation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious Flash content that triggers a specific sequence of memory operations within the Flash Player runtime. When the runtime attempts to access a memory location that has already been freed, it creates a scenario where attackers can manipulate the freed memory to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This memory corruption vulnerability typically manifests when the Flash Player encounters malformed or specially crafted content that causes it to dereference pointers to already deallocated objects. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web browsers or any application that embeds Flash content, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks and social engineering campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5559 extends far beyond simple code execution, as it represents a complete compromise of the affected system's security posture. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain full control over the target system, potentially leading to data theft, system monitoring, privilege escalation, and lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR runtime environments compounds the risk, as AIR applications often have elevated privileges and can access system resources beyond typical web browser limitations. Organizations running affected versions of Flash Player and Adobe AIR are particularly vulnerable to targeted attacks, especially in environments where users frequently visit untrusted websites or receive email attachments containing malicious Flash content. The widespread deployment of Flash Player across enterprise networks makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to critical infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5559 should prioritize immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, with particular attention to the specific version requirements for Windows, OS X, and Linux platforms. Organizations should implement comprehensive network monitoring to detect attempts to access known malicious Flash content and consider implementing browser security policies that disable Flash content entirely or restrict it to trusted domains only. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1059 for command and script interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as attackers leverage the arbitrary code execution capabilities to establish persistent access. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted Flash content and maintain detailed logs of Flash Player activity for forensic analysis. Compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free vulnerabilities, reinforces the importance of proper memory management practices in preventing such exploits. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of maintaining current security patches and implementing layered defense strategies to protect against sophisticated attack vectors that target runtime environments and browser plugins.