CVE-2015-5560 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Integer 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5560 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments across multiple operating systems. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to the specified patches and poses a significant threat to system security. The integer overflow condition occurs when the software fails to properly validate integer values during processing operations, potentially leading to unexpected behavior that attackers can exploit. The flaw affects Windows and macOS systems running Flash Player versions before 18.0.0.232, as well as Linux systems with versions before 11.2.202.508, alongside various Adobe AIR implementations and SDK versions. The unspecified vectors of exploitation suggest that attackers could leverage this vulnerability through multiple attack surfaces within the Flash Player runtime environment.
The technical implementation of this integer overflow vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and arithmetic overflow handling within Adobe's multimedia runtime environment. When processing certain data structures or media content, the Flash Player or AIR runtime fails to properly check integer boundaries, allowing malicious actors to manipulate input values that eventually cause integer overflow conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can lead to buffer overflows, memory corruption, or arbitrary code execution. The flaw demonstrates a classic example of how improper boundary checking in software can create exploitable conditions that bypass normal security controls. The overflow typically occurs during memory allocation calculations or array indexing operations where integer values are used to determine buffer sizes or loop iterations.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5560 extends beyond simple privilege escalation or denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with full arbitrary code execution capabilities. This means that malicious actors could potentially install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent backdoors on vulnerable systems without user interaction. The vulnerability's prevalence across multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux makes it particularly dangerous as it affects a broad user base. Security researchers have documented that such integer overflow vulnerabilities in multimedia frameworks often serve as initial compromise vectors in advanced persistent threat campaigns. The attack surface is further expanded due to Flash Player's widespread deployment in enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish footholds in corporate networks. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers leverage runtime environments to execute malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5560 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and runtime environment hardening. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Adobe Flash Player installations to version 18.0.0.232 or later, and Adobe AIR implementations to version 18.0.0.199 or higher. System administrators should implement network-based controls such as firewall rules to block Flash content from untrusted sources and consider disabling Flash plugin execution entirely in web browsers. The implementation of application whitelisting policies can help prevent unauthorized Flash content execution, while regular security scanning should identify any remaining vulnerable installations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and memory protection features to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious Flash-related network activity and unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. These measures align with the principle of defense in depth and help mitigate the risk of exploitation through multiple control layers.