CVE-2015-5579 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
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 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (stack memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5567.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.241 on Windows and OS X, and before 11.2.202.521 on Linux, along with Adobe AIR versions before 19.0.0.190 and corresponding SDK versions, contained a critical stack memory corruption vulnerability that could be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability represents a distinct issue from CVE-2015-5567 and demonstrates the inherent security risks associated with complex multimedia frameworks that process untrusted content. The flaw occurs within the Flash Player's handling of certain data structures, specifically involving stack-based memory operations that can be manipulated through crafted input. Such vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. The attack surface is particularly concerning given Flash Player's widespread deployment and its role in executing rich internet applications across multiple operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux platforms. This vulnerability enables attackers to potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, which typically runs with the same permissions as the user who initiated the application. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, data corruption, or more severe exploitation opportunities. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially allow full system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability affects organizations that continue to use legacy Flash content, as the attack surface remains relevant even in modern security environments. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because Flash Player's runtime environment provides extensive access to system resources and can interact with local file systems, network components, and other application interfaces. Security researchers have identified this flaw as part of broader patterns in multimedia runtime environments where memory safety issues frequently arise due to complex parsing and rendering operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and code execution techniques, where attackers leverage memory corruption flaws to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks, particularly when evaluating legacy application support and end-of-life software management strategies. The remediation approach requires immediate patch deployment across all affected versions, with additional network segmentation and application whitelisting measures to limit exposure. System administrators must also implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious Flash Player activity and ensure that all endpoints receive timely security updates. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the risks associated with continued use of unsupported software components that may contain known security flaws.