CVE-2015-8064 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-2015-8062, CVE-2015-8063, 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-2015-8064 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that existed across multiple platform versions and release channels. This vulnerability specifically 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 Adobe AIR versions before 20.0.0.204 and corresponding SDK versions. The flaw manifests in a manner that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through unspecified vectors, making it particularly dangerous for web-based exploitation. This vulnerability operates independently from other related issues in the same timeframe, distinguishing it from the numerous other Flash Player vulnerabilities that were simultaneously being addressed in 2015.
The technical nature of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Flash Player runtime environment where freed memory blocks are accessed after being deallocated. When certain Flash content is processed, the application fails to properly validate memory references, creating a window where freed memory can be reallocated and subsequently accessed by malicious code. This particular flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory, and more broadly relates to CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves crafting malicious Flash content that triggers the memory management error, leading to potential code execution with the privileges of the Flash Player process.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8064 extends significantly across multiple attack vectors and user environments due to Flash Player's widespread deployment across desktop and mobile platforms. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through drive-by downloads, malicious websites, or compromised web applications that deliver specially crafted Flash content to unsuspecting users. The vulnerability affects not only end-user systems but also enterprise environments where Flash Player remains widely deployed for legacy applications, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access to corporate networks. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability, affecting Windows, OS X, and Linux systems, increases the attack surface significantly. According to MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) when exploited, as attackers may use the initial compromise to establish persistence and escalate privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8064 require immediate patching of affected software components, including Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR, and associated SDK versions. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all systems are updated promptly, as the vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild during 2015. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security controls such as disabling Flash Player execution in web browsers, deploying web application firewalls, and utilizing sandboxing technologies to limit potential damage from exploitation attempts. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious Flash-related traffic patterns, and security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify unpatched systems. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and demonstrates how legacy applications can serve as persistent attack vectors, particularly in environments where older software continues to be deployed despite known security risks.