CVE-2015-7629 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a TextFormat object with a crafted tabStops property, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7631, CVE-2015-7643, and CVE-2015-7644.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and AIR runtime environments that affects multiple operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing TextFormat objects with maliciously crafted tabStops properties, creating a scenario where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated. This particular weakness falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is a well-documented vulnerability pattern where memory is accessed after it has been freed, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Adobe products including Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.252 and 19.x prior to 19.0.0.207 on Windows and OS X, and Linux versions before 11.2.202.535, along with Adobe AIR versions before 19.0.0.213 and corresponding SDK versions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of TextFormat objects within Flash applications, where attackers craft malicious tabStops properties that trigger improper memory management during object destruction. When the Flash Player processes these crafted objects, it fails to properly validate the memory state of the TextFormat object, leading to a situation where freed memory can be accessed and potentially overwritten with malicious code. This memory corruption allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, which typically runs with the same permissions as the user. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers leverage application-specific vulnerabilities to gain code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with a reliable path to remote code execution on systems running vulnerable Adobe Flash Player or AIR applications. The broad affected platform support means that exploitation can occur across multiple operating systems, increasing the attack surface and potential impact. Organizations with legacy systems running older Flash Player versions face particular risk, as these systems often lack modern security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention. The vulnerability's classification as a use-after-free issue means that exploitation typically requires careful memory manipulation and may involve techniques such as heap spraying to ensure successful code execution. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash Player is commonly used for business applications, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threats and zero-day exploit campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching of all affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR installations to the latest versions that contain the necessary memory management fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all vulnerable systems are updated promptly, particularly in environments where Flash content is actively used. Additional defensive measures include implementing Adobe Flash Player sandboxing configurations, restricting Flash content execution in web browsers, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Flash Player components unless explicitly authorized. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and demonstrates the necessity of implementing layered security approaches to protect against memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to complete system compromise.