CVE-2015-6679 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 bypass the Same Origin Policy and obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2024
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.241 and 19.x prior to 19.0.0.185 on Windows and OS X platforms, along with Flash Player versions before 11.2.202.521 on Linux, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 19.0.0.190 including corresponding SDK and Compiler versions, contained a critical security vulnerability that enabled attackers to circumvent the fundamental Same Origin Policy mechanism. This vulnerability represents a significant bypass of web security controls that are designed to prevent unauthorized access to resources across different domains, effectively allowing malicious actors to access sensitive information from other origins. The flaw manifested through unspecified vectors that were not fully detailed in the initial vulnerability report, but the implications were severe enough to warrant immediate attention from security professionals. The Same Origin Policy is a core security principle defined by the World Wide Web Consortium and is implemented across all major web browsers to prevent scripts from accessing resources from different origins without proper authorization. This particular vulnerability in Flash Player created a pathway for attackers to exploit cross-origin resource sharing restrictions that should have otherwise prevented such unauthorized data access. The attack surface was particularly concerning given that Flash Player was widely deployed across operating systems including Windows and OS X platforms, making the vulnerability applicable to a large user base. Security researchers identified this issue as a critical flaw that could potentially enable data theft, session hijacking, and other malicious activities that rely on bypassing web security boundaries. The vulnerability was classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a weakness related to security policy enforcement, specifically involving inadequate access control mechanisms. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability allowed attackers to perform cross-site scripting attacks that could lead to the exposure of sensitive user data, including cookies, session tokens, and other confidential information that should have been protected by browser security policies. The impact extended beyond simple information disclosure as it could enable more sophisticated attacks that leverage the bypassed security controls to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to additional resources. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Flash Player and AIR were particularly vulnerable as the software was commonly used for web applications, multimedia content, and enterprise software that required robust security controls. The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in significant financial losses, regulatory compliance issues, and reputational damage for affected organizations. Mitigation strategies required immediate patching of all affected versions of Adobe Flash Player, AIR, and their corresponding SDK components to restore proper Same Origin Policy enforcement. Security teams needed to implement comprehensive monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all endpoints were updated to patched versions. The vulnerability also highlighted the broader security risks associated with legacy Flash Player implementations and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components. This flaw demonstrated how browser security mechanisms could be bypassed through vulnerabilities in plugin software, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit web applications that relied on Flash for functionality. The incident underscored the necessity of proper security testing and validation of web security controls, particularly in environments where legacy software components continued to be deployed. Organizations were advised to conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions and implement immediate remediation measures to prevent exploitation attempts. The broader implications of this vulnerability extended to web security practices, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that do not rely solely on browser-based security controls. This vulnerability also contributed to the growing trend of phasing out Flash Player support in favor of more secure HTML5-based technologies. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability were consistent with those observed in other Same Origin Policy bypass exploits, making it a significant concern for security professionals monitoring for advanced persistent threats. The vulnerability's impact was particularly severe in enterprise environments where Flash Player was extensively used for business applications, creating additional attack vectors for adversaries seeking to compromise sensitive corporate data. Security researchers noted that the unspecified vectors in the original description indicated a complex underlying flaw that could potentially be exploited in multiple ways, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous. The remediation process required careful coordination between IT teams and security operations to ensure that all affected systems were properly updated and that no residual vulnerabilities remained in the patched implementations. This vulnerability served as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining current security patches for all software components, particularly those that provide core web functionality and security controls. The incident also highlighted the challenges of securing legacy systems that continue to be deployed in enterprise environments despite known security vulnerabilities. Organizations were encouraged to implement automated patch management systems to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed for extended periods. The broader security community viewed this vulnerability as indicative of the declining security posture of Flash Player and contributed to the eventual discontinuation of Flash Player support by Adobe, as the software had become increasingly difficult to secure against modern attack vectors.