CVE-2015-7637 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 unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7629, CVE-2015-7631, CVE-2015-7635, CVE-2015-7636, CVE-2015-7638, CVE-2015-7639, CVE-2015-7640, CVE-2015-7641, CVE-2015-7642, CVE-2015-7643, and CVE-2015-7644.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2022
The CVE-2015-7637 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR software ecosystems that emerged in 2015. This vulnerability affects multiple platform versions including Windows and OS X systems running Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.252 and 19.x prior to 19.0.0.207, as well as Linux systems with Flash Player versions before 11.2.202.535. The issue also extends to Adobe AIR versions before 19.0.0.213 and their corresponding SDKs, making it a widespread concern across the Adobe multimedia platform. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, a class of memory safety issues that occur when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating exploitable conditions for malicious code execution. This particular flaw differs from several other vulnerabilities in the same year, specifically excluding CVE-2015-7629 through CVE-2015-7644, indicating a distinct exploitation vector that requires separate analysis and mitigation approaches.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Adobe Flash Player's handling of certain objects during runtime execution. When Flash Player processes specific multimedia content or executes particular code sequences, it fails to properly validate object references after memory deallocation occurs. This allows attackers to manipulate the memory state and potentially overwrite freed memory locations with malicious payloads. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves crafting specially designed Flash content that triggers the memory corruption scenario, which then enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The attack surface is particularly concerning because Flash Player was widely installed across enterprise environments and consumer systems, providing attackers with numerous potential targets for exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR and SDKs further amplifies the risk, as these components are often used in both desktop applications and mobile development environments, creating additional attack vectors for malicious actors.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7637 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass significant security implications for affected organizations. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to systems, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The widespread adoption of Flash Player across different operating systems and platforms means that organizations could face attacks across multiple vectors simultaneously, complicating incident response and remediation efforts. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a compromised Flash file, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by download scenarios. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation typically results in code execution that can be leveraged for further attack stages. The vulnerability's presence in both runtime and development environments creates cascading effects where a single compromised system could potentially compromise entire development pipelines or enterprise networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7637 require immediate action from organizations to prevent exploitation attempts. The primary and most effective mitigation involves applying the official patches released by Adobe, which include updates to Flash Player versions 18.0.0.252 and 19.0.0.207 for Windows and OS X systems, and 11.2.202.535 for Linux systems, along with corresponding AIR and SDK updates. Organizations should also implement network-based controls such as blocking Flash content at the firewall level or using content filtering solutions to prevent access to known malicious Flash content. Browser security measures including disabling Flash plugin execution entirely or implementing sandboxing techniques can significantly reduce the attack surface. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running outdated versions of the affected software and prioritize patching efforts accordingly. The vulnerability's classification as a critical threat by security vendors underscores the importance of immediate remediation, as the window for exploitation remains open for unpatched systems. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous execution patterns consistent with use-after-free exploitation attempts, providing additional layers of defense beyond traditional signature-based detection methods.