CVE-2015-5570 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.241 and 19.x before 19.0.0.185 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.521 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 19.0.0.190, Adobe AIR SDK before 19.0.0.190, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 19.0.0.190 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5574, CVE-2015-5581, CVE-2015-5584, and CVE-2015-6682.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5570 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments that affected multiple platform versions across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute malicious code. The affected versions include Flash Player before 18.0.0.241 and 19.x before 19.0.0.185 on Windows and OS X, along with Flash Player before 11.2.202.521 on Linux, as well as various Adobe AIR versions and SDKs. The vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that differ from several other related vulnerabilities in the same timeframe, specifically excluding CVE-2015-5574, CVE-2015-5581, CVE-2015-5584, and CVE-2015-6682, indicating a distinct exploitation pathway. This flaw falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is classified as a serious memory safety issue that directly relates to the broader category of memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental memory management weakness where Flash Player's runtime environment fails to properly validate references to objects that have been deallocated from memory. Attackers can craft malicious Flash content that triggers the use-after-free condition by manipulating object references in a way that allows them to control the execution flow of the application. The attack typically involves creating a scenario where an object is freed but references to it persist, enabling attackers to overwrite memory contents with malicious code or manipulate pointers to redirect execution. This particular vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex multimedia runtime environments that handle untrusted content, as these systems often maintain complex object lifecycles and memory management structures that can be difficult to validate completely. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Flash Player was widely deployed across web browsers and applications, making it an attractive target for exploit development.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5570 extends beyond simple code execution to represent a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure and user systems. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Flash Player and AIR were exposed to potential remote code execution attacks that could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms within targeted environments. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability meant that attackers could potentially target multiple operating systems with a single exploit payload, increasing the attack surface and reducing the effectiveness of platform-specific security measures. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK tactics including execution through legitimate system processes, privilege escalation via memory corruption, and persistence mechanisms that could be established through the exploitation of such runtime environments. The widespread deployment of Flash Player across enterprise networks made this vulnerability particularly dangerous as a single compromised page could potentially affect numerous users simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5570 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and operational security measures to reduce exposure. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Adobe Flash Player installations to versions 18.0.0.241 or later for Windows and OS X, and 11.2.202.521 or later for Linux, alongside updating Adobe AIR to version 19.0.0.190 or later. The implementation of network-based controls including web application firewalls, content filtering systems, and browser security policies can help reduce the risk of exploitation by blocking malicious Flash content. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous memory access patterns or exploitation attempts in real-time. Additional protective measures include disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, implementing sandboxing mechanisms, and establishing comprehensive incident response procedures for potential exploitation events. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the risks associated with legacy software environments, particularly those that handle untrusted content through complex runtime environments. Organizations should also consider migrating away from Flash-based content entirely, as the platform has been deprecated and is no longer supported by Adobe, leaving it increasingly vulnerable to unpatched security issues.