CVE-2015-5580 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 (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5575, CVE-2015-5577, CVE-2015-5578, CVE-2015-5582, CVE-2015-5588, and CVE-2015-6677.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.241 for Windows and OS X, 19.x versions before 19.0.0.185 for the same platforms, and 11.2.202.521 for Linux, along with Adobe AIR versions before 19.0.0.190 including the corresponding SDK and Compiler versions, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct issue from several other related flaws identified in the same timeframe, specifically excluding CVE-2015-5575, CVE-2015-5577, CVE-2015-5578, CVE-2015-5582, CVE-2015-5588, and CVE-2015-6677. The flaw stems from improper memory handling within the Flash Player runtime environment, where insufficient bounds checking and memory management mechanisms allowed attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted malicious content. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as out-of-bounds read conditions and CWE-787 as out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which fall within the broader category of memory safety issues that have historically been primary attack vectors for exploit development. The attack surface for this vulnerability spans across multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms, making it particularly dangerous as it affects a wide range of user environments. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor establishment. The memory corruption aspect of the flaw allows for various attack techniques including heap spraying, stack overflow exploitation, and return-oriented programming attacks that leverage the unstable memory state to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, and T1106 for execution through system binaries, as attackers can leverage the compromised Flash Player process to execute malicious payloads with elevated privileges. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate execution capabilities to include long-term system compromise through persistent threat actor presence, making it a critical concern for enterprise environments where Flash Player remains in use. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, implement network segmentation to limit exposure, and consider disabling Flash Player functionality entirely given the prevalence of similar vulnerabilities in the software ecosystem. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex multimedia frameworks and underscores the importance of regular security assessments and timely patch management for legacy software components that continue to pose significant security risks despite their declining usage.