CVE-2015-8068 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-2015-8064, CVE-2015-8065, CVE-2015-8066, CVE-2015-8067, 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.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2015-8068 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that has significant implications for system security. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe Flash Player across different operating systems including Windows and OS X, as well as Linux platforms, alongside Adobe AIR and its associated development tools. The flaw occurs in the memory management handling of Flash Player's execution environment, where freed memory blocks are still being accessed by the application after they have been deallocated. This particular vulnerability is distinct from a series of related issues identified in the same timeframe, emphasizing the complexity and multifaceted nature of the security landscape surrounding Adobe's multimedia platform.
The technical nature of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within Flash Player's runtime environment. When objects are destroyed or freed from memory, the application should ensure that all references to those objects are properly invalidated. However, in the affected versions, certain code paths allow for continued access to memory locations that have already been freed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability operates through unspecified vectors, which suggests that attackers can trigger the condition through various means including crafted SWF files, web content, or other Flash-based applications that leverage the vulnerable memory handling routines. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a specially crafted file.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8068 extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass security restrictions, escalate privileges, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within affected systems. The vulnerability affects not only end-user systems but also enterprise environments where Flash Player is commonly deployed for web applications, multimedia presentations, and interactive content. Given that Flash Player was widely used across different platforms and applications, the potential attack surface was extensive, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to exploit widespread deployments. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR and related development tools further amplifies the risk, as it could potentially be used to compromise development environments and supply chain processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8068 primarily focus on immediate patching and application of vendor security updates. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR, and related development tools that contain fixes for this vulnerability. The specific version numbers mentioned in the CVE description indicate that patches were released to address the issue, and administrators should ensure they are running patched versions that are not vulnerable to this use-after-free condition. Additionally, organizations should implement network-based protections including web application firewalls and content filtering systems to prevent access to known malicious Flash content. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous memory access patterns or unusual network behavior. From a defensive perspective, the vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper memory management can create persistent security weaknesses in software applications. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic' or similar execution methods that leverage memory corruption vulnerabilities for code execution.