CVE-2015-7661 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 a crafted getBounds call, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7651, 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-2015-7663, CVE-2015-8042, CVE-2015-8043, CVE-2015-8044, and CVE-2015-8046.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2022
The CVE-2015-7661 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and AIR runtime environments that fundamentally compromises system security through memory management errors. This vulnerability specifically affects Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.261 and 19.x prior to 19.0.0.245 on Windows and OS X platforms, while also impacting Linux versions before 11.2.202.548. Additionally, Adobe AIR products including the runtime and SDK versions before 19.0.0.241 are equally susceptible to this memory corruption issue. The flaw manifests through a crafted getBounds API call, which triggers the vulnerable memory handling process that creates conditions for arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 as a use-after-free condition, where memory that has been freed is accessed, creating potential for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the improper handling of object references within Flash Player's ActionScript runtime environment. When a malicious getBounds call is executed against a freed object reference, the Flash Player runtime fails to properly validate memory access, allowing attackers to manipulate heap memory layout and potentially overwrite critical function pointers or execute shellcode. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of a remote code execution vector that leverages the inherent complexity of Flash Player's memory management system, particularly when dealing with dynamic object allocation and deallocation during runtime operations. Attackers can craft malicious SWF files that, when loaded by vulnerable Flash Player versions, trigger the use-after-free condition through specific API interactions that bypass normal security checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7661 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise, as demonstrated by numerous exploitation techniques that have been documented in the wild. The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass modern security mitigations such as DEP, ASLR, and stack canaries through careful memory manipulation, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash Player remains widely deployed. This vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild, targeting web browsers and applications that embed Flash Player components, with successful exploitation resulting in full system compromise, data theft, and persistence mechanisms. The attack surface is particularly broad given Flash Player's prevalence across various operating systems and applications, making this vulnerability one of the most impactful in the 2015 Adobe security advisory.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7661 primarily focus on immediate patching and operational security measures. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR installations to versions 18.0.0.261, 19.0.0.245, or later, as well as updating Adobe AIR SDK and Compiler to version 19.0.0.241 or higher. Network-based mitigations include implementing content filtering solutions that block Flash content or restricting access to known malicious domains. Browser vendors have implemented additional security measures such as Flash Player sandboxing and automatic update mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) techniques, as attackers leverage the vulnerability to execute malicious code with elevated privileges. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Flash-based content and monitor for suspicious API calls within network traffic to detect potential exploitation attempts.