CVE-2015-8069 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-2015-8068, 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 • 11/11/2024
The CVE-2015-8069 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that affected multiple platform versions across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacts Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 20.0.0.204 and corresponding SDK versions. The flaw stems from improper memory management where freed memory locations are still being accessed by subsequent operations, creating a predictable exploitation vector for malicious actors. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software development practices, making it particularly dangerous in runtime environments like web browsers where Flash content is frequently executed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious Flash content that triggers a specific sequence of operations within the Flash Player runtime environment. During normal operation, Flash Player allocates memory for various objects and structures to handle multimedia content rendering, script execution, and user interaction processing. When the vulnerability is triggered, typically through malformed or crafted SWF files delivered via web browsers or email attachments, the memory management system fails to properly track object lifecycles, leading to situations where freed memory blocks are accessed again. This creates opportunities for attackers to either read sensitive data from adjacent memory locations or write malicious code into previously freed memory regions, effectively allowing arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the memory management level rather than application logic, making detection and prevention more challenging for traditional security mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8069 extends far beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it represents a significant threat vector for advanced persistent threats and zero-day attacks targeting enterprise environments. Organizations running affected versions of Flash Player were vulnerable to remote code execution attacks that could bypass standard security controls, including firewalls and antivirus solutions that typically do not inspect Flash content at the memory level. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, often only visiting a malicious webpage or opening an infected email attachment, making it particularly effective for large-scale phishing campaigns. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and control communications, as successful exploitation allows for complete system compromise and persistent access. The widespread adoption of Flash Player across both enterprise and consumer environments meant that a single compromised website could potentially affect thousands of users simultaneously, creating a significant threat surface for nation-state actors and cybercriminal organizations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8069 primarily focus on immediate patching and system hardening measures to prevent exploitation. Adobe released security updates for all affected versions of Flash Player, AIR, and SDK components, with the most critical fixes available in versions 18.0.0.268, 20.0.0.228, and 20.0.0.204 respectively. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all systems running Flash Player are updated to patched versions, as the vulnerability remains exploitable until remediation is complete. Additional defensive measures include implementing browser security policies that restrict Flash content execution, deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious SWF content, and utilizing sandboxing technologies to limit the damage from successful exploitation attempts. Network-level protections such as content filtering systems and email security gateways should be configured to scan and block Flash content from untrusted sources. From a compliance perspective, organizations should document their remediation efforts and monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's characteristics make it particularly suitable for advanced threat actors who may have already developed working exploits for the specific memory corruption pattern. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416 and its exploitation patterns align with broader security frameworks that emphasize memory safety in application development, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing including fuzzing and memory analysis during software development cycles to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.