CVE-2015-5562 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 by leveraging an unspecified "type confusion," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5554, CVE-2015-5555, and CVE-2015-5558.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
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 including the corresponding SDK and Compiler versions, contained a critical type confusion vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability specifically manifested as an improper handling of data types during runtime execution, allowing attackers to manipulate memory operations through crafted Flash content. The flaw was distinct from other related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2015-5554, CVE-2015-5555, and CVE-2015-5558, which indicates a separate code path or implementation error within the Flash Player runtime environment. Type confusion vulnerabilities typically occur when a program incorrectly handles objects of different types, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability exploited the underlying memory management mechanisms of the Flash Player's ActionScript runtime, where improper type checking allowed attackers to manipulate object references and overwrite critical memory locations. This particular flaw was classified under CWE-476 as a NULL Pointer Dereference, though the actual exploitation involved more complex memory corruption patterns typical of type confusion attacks. The attack surface was extensive given Flash Player's widespread deployment across multiple operating systems and its integration with web browsers, making it a prime target for zero-day exploits. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represented a severe risk to enterprise environments where Flash Player remained enabled, as it required no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a compromised Flash file. The exploitation chain typically involved crafting malicious SWF files that would trigger the type confusion during runtime, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This vulnerability aligned with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting the Windows Command Shell execution pathway through Flash Player's runtime environment. The security implications extended beyond individual user systems to enterprise networks, as successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise and lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Adobe Flash Player and AIR were particularly at risk due to the lack of sandboxing controls that would normally prevent such exploitation scenarios. The vulnerability required attackers to leverage the specific memory layout and object management patterns within Flash Player's ActionScript Virtual Machine to successfully execute arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability often manifests in heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions, where type confusion creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate object layouts and achieve code execution. The remediation approach focused on updating to patched versions of Adobe Flash Player and AIR, with security patches addressing the underlying type confusion in the runtime's object management system. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management strategies to address this vulnerability across their entire infrastructure, as the attack surface was broad and the exploitation methods were well-documented in security research reports. The vulnerability demonstrated the persistent risks associated with legacy multimedia frameworks and highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for widely deployed software components. Security professionals should have monitored for exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems, as the exploitation patterns were consistent with known attack methodologies for similar type confusion vulnerabilities in runtime environments.