CVE-2015-8060 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
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 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8045, CVE-2015-8047, CVE-2015-8408, CVE-2015-8416, CVE-2015-8417, CVE-2015-8418, CVE-2015-8419, CVE-2015-8443, CVE-2015-8444, CVE-2015-8451, and CVE-2015-8455.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2022
Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability affected multiple product versions across different operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. The flaw manifested as an exploitable memory corruption issue that could be triggered by malformed input within Flash content or AIR applications, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it affected widely deployed software components that were commonly used across enterprise environments and consumer applications. Security researchers identified that the memory corruption occurred during the processing of specific Flash media elements or AIR application components, creating a pathway for attackers to inject malicious code into the target system. The vulnerability's exploitation required a sophisticated attack vector that could leverage the memory corruption to overwrite critical program execution structures or redirect code execution flow. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the CWE-119 weakness category, which encompasses memory safety issues and buffer overflows that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack surface was broad due to Flash Player's extensive deployment across web browsers and the widespread use of AIR applications for desktop software distribution. Organizations running affected versions faced significant risk as the vulnerability could be exploited through web browsers without requiring user interaction or specific privileges. The impact extended beyond simple code execution to include potential system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers the use of scripting languages for execution, as attackers could leverage the memory corruption to execute malicious scripts within the Flash runtime environment. The affected versions included major release lines of Adobe Flash Player and AIR that were actively used in enterprise and consumer environments, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous. The lack of specific details about the attack vectors in the CVE description indicated that the flaw was complex and potentially exploitable through multiple methods. This vulnerability demonstrated the inherent risks associated with complex multimedia runtime environments and their susceptibility to memory corruption attacks. The exploit development required deep understanding of the Flash Player memory management and execution model, making it a sophisticated target for advanced persistent threats. Organizations needed to urgently patch their systems as the vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple product versions and operating systems highlighted the need for comprehensive vulnerability management programs. The memory corruption issue represented a fundamental flaw in the software's input validation and memory handling mechanisms, which could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to system resources and execute malicious payloads. Security professionals noted that the vulnerability's exploitation could potentially bypass traditional security controls due to the privileged execution context within which Flash Player operated. The affected software components were commonly integrated into web applications and enterprise software, creating extensive attack surfaces for potential exploitation. The vulnerability's impact on both desktop and web-based applications meant that organizations needed to implement multi-layered security approaches to protect against exploitation. The complexity of the memory corruption issue required specialized knowledge to develop effective mitigations and patches. Organizations that had not already migrated away from Flash technology were particularly vulnerable to this class of attack, as the software was no longer receiving security updates. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption flaw underscored the importance of secure coding practices and memory safety mechanisms in runtime environments. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise, data theft, and persistent backdoor installation within affected environments. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability were consistent with those seen in other Flash-based exploits, indicating that attackers were actively targeting the underlying memory management flaws. The security community's response emphasized the need for immediate patch deployment and the importance of transitioning away from legacy Flash technology. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR SDK and compiler components indicated that developers creating AIR applications were also at risk, as the flaws could be introduced through the development process itself. This vulnerability highlighted the ongoing challenges associated with maintaining security in legacy software platforms and the critical importance of timely patch management. The memory corruption issues in Flash Player represented a significant risk to enterprise security posture, particularly in environments where the software was widely deployed. The vulnerability's exploitation potential made it a prime target for cybercriminals and nation-state actors seeking to establish persistent access to target systems. The affected product versions were commonly used across various industries, including financial services, healthcare, and government sectors, amplifying the potential impact of the vulnerability. Security vendors and researchers identified that the vulnerability's exploitation could be automated through web-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited security monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligned with common attack patterns in the cybersecurity landscape where attackers target memory management flaws to gain unauthorized code execution. The widespread deployment of affected software across multiple platforms meant that the vulnerability had significant potential for large-scale exploitation. The lack of detailed information about specific attack vectors suggested that the vulnerability was complex and potentially exploitable through multiple methods, requiring comprehensive security assessments. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond immediate execution capabilities to include potential privilege escalation and persistent access mechanisms. Organizations needed to implement immediate security measures including browser plugin disabling, network segmentation, and enhanced monitoring to protect against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in both Flash Player and AIR runtime environments indicated that the underlying memory management flaws were pervasive across Adobe's multimedia platform. The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrated the continued risks associated with legacy software platforms and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls. The vulnerability's classification and impact were consistent with industry-wide concerns about Flash Player security and the need for comprehensive migration strategies to modern web standards. Security professionals recommended that organizations immediately implement patch management procedures to address this vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in both consumer and enterprise software versions highlighted the broad attack surface and the critical need for comprehensive security monitoring across all software deployments. The memory corruption characteristics of this vulnerability made it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional security controls, requiring specialized monitoring and response capabilities. The vulnerability's exploitation could result in complete system compromise and data loss, making it a critical priority for security teams to address through immediate patching and remediation efforts.