CVE-2015-8057 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.554 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 20.0.0.204, Adobe AIR SDK before 20.0.0.204, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 20.0.0.204 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8048, CVE-2015-8049, CVE-2015-8050, CVE-2015-8055, CVE-2015-8056, CVE-2015-8058, CVE-2015-8059, CVE-2015-8061, CVE-2015-8062, CVE-2015-8063, CVE-2015-8064, CVE-2015-8065, CVE-2015-8066, CVE-2015-8067, CVE-2015-8068, CVE-2015-8069, CVE-2015-8070, CVE-2015-8071, CVE-2015-8401, CVE-2015-8402, CVE-2015-8403, CVE-2015-8404, CVE-2015-8405, CVE-2015-8406, CVE-2015-8410, CVE-2015-8411, CVE-2015-8412, CVE-2015-8413, CVE-2015-8414, CVE-2015-8420, CVE-2015-8421, CVE-2015-8422, CVE-2015-8423, CVE-2015-8424, CVE-2015-8425, CVE-2015-8426, CVE-2015-8427, CVE-2015-8428, CVE-2015-8429, CVE-2015-8430, CVE-2015-8431, CVE-2015-8432, CVE-2015-8433, CVE-2015-8434, CVE-2015-8435, CVE-2015-8436, CVE-2015-8437, CVE-2015-8441, CVE-2015-8442, CVE-2015-8447, CVE-2015-8448, CVE-2015-8449, CVE-2015-8450, CVE-2015-8452, and CVE-2015-8454.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2022
The CVE-2015-8057 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that existed across multiple platform versions and release lines. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues and specifically manifests as a use-after-free condition that occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability affects Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and OS X platforms, as well as older versions on Linux systems, along with Adobe AIR and its associated SDK components. The flaw is particularly concerning because it enables remote code execution through unspecified attack vectors, making it a prime target for exploitation in web-based attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Adobe's Flash Player runtime environment, where objects are deallocated from memory but references to these objects persist in memory structures. This creates a window of opportunity where an attacker can manipulate the freed memory location to inject malicious code that will execute with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-416 use-after-free condition according to the Common Weakness Enumeration standards, which specifically identifies situations where program code attempts to access memory after it has been freed, leading to potential arbitrary code execution. The complexity of the Flash Player runtime environment and its interaction with web browsers creates numerous potential attack surfaces for exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8057 extends far beyond simple exploitation, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure and user safety. The vulnerability's presence across multiple platforms including Windows, OS X, and Linux systems means that organizations cannot simply patch one operating system to resolve the issue, requiring comprehensive patch management across all affected systems. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can execute malicious code with the same privileges as the Flash Player application, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms. The fact that this vulnerability is distinct from several other related CVEs indicates that it represents a unique exploitation pathway rather than a common pattern, making it more difficult for security teams to identify and defend against. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Flash Player, AIR, or their SDK components face substantial risk of targeted attacks that could result in significant financial and operational damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8057 require immediate action through patch deployment and comprehensive security hardening measures. The most effective approach involves updating all affected Adobe Flash Player installations to versions 18.0.0.268 or later for the 18.x line, 20.0.0.228 or later for the 20.x line, and ensuring Adobe AIR and SDK components are updated to versions 20.0.0.204 or later. Security administrators should implement network segmentation and browser security controls to prevent Flash content execution in web browsers where possible, particularly in enterprise environments. The vulnerability's exploitation typically occurs through web-based attacks, making browser security configurations and content filtering solutions valuable additional defenses. According to ATT&CK framework categorization, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and code injection, requiring organizations to implement robust endpoint protection measures and monitor for suspicious process behavior. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and network-based intrusion detection systems to identify and block exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before widespread deployment to avoid potential application compatibility issues that could impact business operations.