CVE-2015-7651 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.261 and 19.x before 19.0.0.245 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.548 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 19.0.0.241, Adobe AIR SDK before 19.0.0.241, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 19.0.0.241 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted DefineFunction atoms, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7652, CVE-2015-7653, CVE-2015-7654, CVE-2015-7655, CVE-2015-7656, CVE-2015-7657, CVE-2015-7658, CVE-2015-7660, CVE-2015-7661, CVE-2015-7663, CVE-2015-8042, CVE-2015-8043, CVE-2015-8044, and CVE-2015-8046.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2022
The CVE-2015-7651 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments that affects multiple operating systems and software versions. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of DefineFunction atoms within the Flash Player's ActionScript execution environment, creating a scenario where memory that has been freed is still accessed by malicious code. The flaw exists in Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.261 and 19.x versions before 19.0.0.245 on Windows and OS X platforms, and in Adobe AIR versions before 19.0.0.241, including the corresponding Adobe AIR SDK and Compiler versions. The vulnerability operates through crafted malicious content that exploits improper memory management during the processing of function definitions within Flash applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory deallocation and subsequent access control mechanisms within Adobe's Flash Player runtime. When processing malicious DefineFunction atoms, the system frees memory associated with certain function objects but fails to properly invalidate references to that memory before it gets reallocated. Attackers can leverage this by crafting specially constructed SWF files that trigger the vulnerable code path, causing the system to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through Flash-based attacks. The exploitation process typically involves creating a memory layout where freed memory can be manipulated to contain attacker-controlled data, enabling code execution through the use-after-free condition.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7651 is severe and multifaceted across enterprise and individual computing environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass security controls, escalate privileges, and execute malicious payloads without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attacks. The vulnerability affects widely deployed software across multiple platforms, increasing its potential attack surface significantly. Organizations using Adobe Flash Player for web content delivery, multimedia applications, or legacy systems face substantial risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited through web browsers or any application that embeds Flash Player functionality. The fact that this vulnerability affects both desktop and mobile environments through Adobe AIR further amplifies its threat potential, as it can be exploited across different execution contexts and attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7651 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR installations to versions that address the memory management flaw. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious SWF files. Additionally, browser security configurations should be hardened by disabling Flash Player plugins entirely where possible, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual network connections or file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a use-after-free condition also necessitates enhanced memory integrity monitoring and runtime protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent the exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous behavior patterns consistent with this type of vulnerability exploitation.