CVE-2015-7625 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.252 and 19.x before 19.0.0.207 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.535 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 19.0.0.213, Adobe AIR SDK before 19.0.0.213, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 19.0.0.213 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7626, CVE-2015-7627, CVE-2015-7630, CVE-2015-7633, and CVE-2015-7634.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.252 on Windows and OS X, and before 11.2.202.535 on Linux, along with Adobe AIR versions before 19.0.0.213 and corresponding SDK versions, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct issue from other related CVEs in the same year, specifically CVE-2015-7626 through CVE-2015-7634, indicating a separate code path or implementation flaw within the Adobe Flash runtime environment. The flaw manifested as an unspecified vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate memory structures within the Flash Player process, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the Flash Player's ActionScript runtime and native code components, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious SWF files or web content that would trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree model where adversaries leverage browser-based exploits to gain initial access to target systems. The memory corruption aspect places this vulnerability in the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow conditions, while the broader impact encompasses multiple attack vectors including web-based delivery mechanisms and potentially file-based attacks through malicious content. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through various delivery methods such as malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web applications that serve Flash content to unsuspecting users. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include system stability concerns, as memory corruption could lead to denial of service conditions that would render the Flash Player or entire applications unusable, potentially affecting user productivity and system availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was significant across enterprise environments where Flash Player was widely deployed for multimedia content, web applications, and rich internet applications. Organizations faced potential compromise of user systems, data breaches, and service disruption when users encountered malicious Flash content. The vulnerability affected not just end-user systems but also developer environments that utilized Adobe AIR SDKs for application development, creating extended attack surfaces for malicious actors. Security teams needed to implement immediate patch management procedures, network-based protections, and user education campaigns to mitigate exposure. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product lines including Flash Player, AIR, and SDK versions created complex remediation requirements that extended across different software components and deployment scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability included immediate patch deployment across all affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR installations, network segmentation to prevent access to untrusted Flash content, and browser-based security controls such as disabling Flash plugin execution in web browsers. Organizations should have implemented application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted Flash content and deployed intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies for legacy software components. Security professionals should have referenced ATT&CK framework techniques related to exploitation of browser vulnerabilities and memory corruption, particularly focusing on techniques such as T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution to understand potential attack patterns and implement appropriate defensive measures. Organizations also needed to develop incident response procedures specific to Flash-based exploits and consider decommissioning Flash content where possible due to the inherent security risks associated with the platform.