CVE-2015-6678 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow 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-2015-6676.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2024
Adobe Flash Player suffered from a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that affected multiple platform versions prior to specific patch releases. This vulnerability existed in Flash Player versions before 18.0.0.241 and 19.x before 19.0.0.185 on Windows and OS X systems, and before 11.2.202.521 on Linux platforms. The vulnerability also impacted Adobe AIR versions before 19.0.0.190, including the Adobe AIR SDK and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler versions before 19.0.0.190. This flaw represented a distinct vulnerability from CVE-2015-6676 and allowed remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems through unspecified attack vectors. The buffer overflow occurred within the Flash Player runtime environment, specifically in how it handled certain data structures during media processing or script execution. Attackers could craft malicious Flash content that would trigger memory corruption when processed by the vulnerable software, leading to potential code execution. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be exploited through web browsers that had Flash Player enabled, making it a common attack vector for drive-by download scenarios. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the exact memory corruption mechanism was specific to Flash Player's handling of untrusted data. The operational impact was severe as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive information, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability was particularly concerning due to Flash Player's widespread use across various platforms and applications. Organizations implementing mitigation strategies needed to ensure immediate patching of all affected versions, as well as browser security hardening measures. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation typically involved executing malicious code through compromised Flash content. Security professionals recommended disabling Flash Player in browsers where it was not essential, implementing network-based protections, and monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlighted the risks associated with legacy software components and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all system components. Organizations needed to conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all instances of affected software and implement remediation procedures to prevent potential exploitation. The widespread nature of Flash Player deployments meant that this vulnerability posed a significant risk to enterprise environments where legacy applications might still rely on Flash functionality.