CVE-2015-7640 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-2015-7637, CVE-2015-7638, CVE-2015-7639, 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-2015-7640 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments that affected multiple platform versions across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution when exploited by malicious actors. The flaw specifically impacts Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.252 and 19.x before 19.0.0.207 on Windows and OS X platforms, while Linux versions were affected before 11.2.202.535. Additionally, Adobe AIR runtime environments and their associated SDKs were vulnerable until version 19.0.0.213, making this a widespread issue affecting numerous software components within Adobe's ecosystem.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices where freed memory blocks are still referenced or accessed by subsequent operations within the Flash Player runtime. When a program allocates memory for an object and later frees it, but continues to reference that memory location, a use-after-free condition occurs. This flaw allows attackers to manipulate the freed memory to inject and execute malicious code, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the runtime level where Flash Player processes multimedia content and executes ActionScript code, making it a prime target for exploitation through malicious web content or files.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations and individual users who rely on Adobe Flash Player for web browsing and multimedia content delivery. The attack surface is extensive given Flash Player's widespread adoption across different platforms and applications, including web browsers, desktop applications, and mobile devices. Security researchers have noted that such use-after-free vulnerabilities often require specific exploitation techniques involving memory manipulation and code injection, but they remain highly valuable targets for threat actors due to their potential for privilege escalation and system control. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software development practices.
The impact of CVE-2015-7640 extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass broader security implications including potential privilege escalation and persistent system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass security controls, install malware, or establish backdoors on compromised systems. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR SDKs and compilers makes it particularly concerning for developers who may unknowingly create applications vulnerable to exploitation. Organizations implementing security controls should consider the ATT&CK framework's techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence when addressing this vulnerability. The remediation process requires immediate patching of affected Adobe products, including Flash Player, AIR runtime, and SDK components, along with comprehensive system monitoring for potential exploitation attempts. Security teams must also evaluate their existing security controls to ensure proper detection and prevention of similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other software components.