CVE-2015-8062 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-2015-8057, CVE-2015-8058, CVE-2015-8059, CVE-2015-8061, 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-2015-8062 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that existed across multiple platform versions and deployment scenarios. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues and is specifically classified as a use-after-free condition that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw manifests in 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 in Adobe AIR versions before 20.0.0.204 and corresponding SDK versions. The vulnerability affects Linux systems with Adobe Flash Player versions before 11.2.202.554, demonstrating the cross-platform nature of the security issue. This particular vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that distinguish it from a comprehensive list of related security flaws, including CVE-2015-8048 through CVE-2015-8454, which underscores the complexity and distinct nature of the memory corruption issue.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when Flash Player processes certain multimedia content or performs specific operations that lead to memory management errors. A use-after-free condition arises when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed or deallocated, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially overwrite critical program structures. In the context of Adobe Flash Player, this flaw likely occurs during the handling of dynamic content, object management, or memory allocation processes within the player's runtime environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for remote code execution without requiring user interaction, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks and other automated exploitation techniques. The memory corruption can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow, inject malicious code, or escalate privileges depending on the execution context and target system configuration.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8062 extends across numerous enterprise and consumer environments where Adobe Flash Player was deployed, as the vulnerability affects not just the standalone Flash Player but also the Adobe AIR runtime and associated development tools. Organizations running legacy systems with unpatched Flash Player installations faced significant risk of compromise, particularly in environments where users frequently accessed web content from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR SDK and compiler components further amplifies the risk, as developers working with these tools could inadvertently create applications that are vulnerable to exploitation. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through malicious web pages, infected documents, or other delivery mechanisms that trigger Flash Player execution, making the attack surface particularly broad. The vulnerability's impact is exacerbated by the widespread use of Flash Player across various web applications, making it a high-value target for threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to compromised systems.
Security mitigations for CVE-2015-8062 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by Adobe. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Adobe Flash Player installations, AIR runtime components, and SDK versions to their patched releases as specified in the vulnerability advisories. System administrators should implement network segmentation and web filtering controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious content that could trigger the vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, implementing sandboxing mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious network activity or system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to exploitation of remote services and privilege escalation, while also mapping to CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of memory safety in runtime environments and highlights the need for comprehensive vulnerability management programs that address both known and emerging security issues in widely deployed software components. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure rapid deployment of security updates across their infrastructure, given the critical nature of this class of vulnerability.